Don't pay your council tax? We'll bankrupt you say Kirklees

Jan 14 2009 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Clr Palfreeman’s comments came after the Lib Dems released figures earlier this week showing 1.2m people received a court summons for non-payment of council tax last year.

The party’s local government spokeswoman Julia Goldsworthy called on councils to do everything they can to avoid filing for bankruptcy against non-payers.

But Clr Palfreeman said: “All cases are taken on merit, and we will do all we can to help those who are genuinely affected by the recession, but wilful refusal to pay the council tax will not be tolerated.

“If we remove the threat, as the Lib Dems would have us do, Kirklees would be seen as a soft touch and that isn’t fair on those people who work hard to pay their bills on time.”