Sedgemoor Council Confirms All Councillors Paid Their Council Tax

 

The Somerset Levels
From Glastonbury Tor

 

Since Somerset Independents discovered that not just one but TWO Mendip district councillors had NOT paid their council tax, we have been making more enquiries about the other councils in Somerset.

Why? Because residents have told us that it is disgusting that councillors have not paid up, and those same councillors continued to claim their councillor allowance.

Councillor allowance is paid for by those residents who DO pay their council tax.

So residents of the Sedgemoor area in western Somerset, will be reassured to know that Sedgemoor District Council have told us:

"I am now able to provide a full reply to your request.

 

I can disclose  the following information:

Before each tax set, a check is made that any councillors who will have the ability to vote at full council for the tax set, is confirmed as not having any council tax arrears. In both the 19/20 year for the tax set for 20/21 and for the 21/22 tax set, no Councillors had any outstanding Council Tax balances or arrears which did not allow them to vote at such meetings.

 

I hope that this information meets your requirements. I would like to assure you that I have provided you with all relevant information that Sedgemoor District Council holds."

 

Andrew Pope, Leader of Somerset Independents, says:

Andrew Pope

"Residents deserve to know. Councillors do not get a wage, but they get a councillors allowance.

The allowance is public money and it is in the public interest that residents know how it is paid for.

It should be normal that all councillors pay their council tax. 

It is right that all Sedgemoor District councillors have paid up. That is how it should be.

But at Mendip District Council, not only are the cosy club of councillors and officers allowing councillors to not pay - one Green and one who they have covered up, Mendip have also allowed a councilllor (Lib Dem now ex-Cllr Caroline McKinnell) to not do their duties for more than six months, and STILL continue to receive their allowance and keep their seat on the Council.

What a sequence of outrages! It's no wonder residents are not happy and want councillors to be removed. Our residents deserve better representatives."

Somerset Independents is continuing to stand up for residents and is continuing its investigations on councillors who have not paid their council tax, but who expect everybody else to pay for them.

Standing Up For Residents