No longer top for tax

Jun 20 2008 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

NEW figures show Kirklees Council is no longer the top tax collector in West Yorkshire.

The district has fallen behind Leeds in the regional league table.

In 2006/7 Kirklees collected 96.6% of council tax debt – the best record of any of the five West Yorkshire councils. But in 2007/8 the figure slipped to 96.3%, just below Leeds on 96.4%.

Calderdale collected 96%, Wakefield 95.2% and Bradford 93.3%.

The figures released by the Government show that Kirklees recovered £131m of the £136m it was owed last year.

Clr Andrew Palfreeman, Kirklees Cabinet member for finance, defended the council’s record.

He said: “Kirklees has experienced a very minor reduction in collection rates, but we remain above average for metropolitan councils in England.”