Arrears of the Year Part 2: Will Councillors Increase YOUR Council Tax AGAIN Despite Some Of Them Failing To Pay Up?

 

Lib Dem, Green, Labour or Tory
SAME OLD STORY

Somerset's councillors tried to stop residents from finding out that some of them persistently failed to pay their own council tax.

But Somerset Independents stands up for residents. We investigated and exposed councillors who persistently refused to pay. Some councils and council officers - South Somerset and Mendip - tried to hide the names of the councillors.

We are still pursuing those councillors and those councils.

We asked all of the non-paying councillors to resign, because residents told us that these councillors should resign.

One of them is no longer a district councillor - Councillor Paul Bolton - has caused a by-election in the Alcombe ward. 

But other councillors are still there! How can they be? Do they have any shame? It seems not.

To add insult to injury, in 2021, councillors voted to increase your council tax. All parts of your council tax increased, because councillors voted to increase it all:

- your district council council tax

- your county council council tax

- the Police part of your council tax

- the Fire Service part of your council tax

Councillors increased your council tax during a Global Pandemic DESPITE Somerset Independents asking councillors not to increase it. Our officers spoke at the budget meetings and we also wrote to them.

NONE of the Westminster parties - Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, Greens or Labour - ACTED to stop your council tax going up. Whether Lib Dem, Green, Labour or Tory, it's the same old story.

Only Somerset Independents stood up for residents.

Soon, councillors will be voting on whether to increase YOUR council tax again.

Will the councillors DARE to increase it, after some of did not even pay their own council tax?

A resident contacted us to say:

"Thank you for your diligence in pursuing SSDC in regards to unpaid council 
tax.  

Two of my local councillors have been implicated in your 
investigations,  Cllr Ben Hodgson and Cllr Robin Pailthorpe.  

At a time when local precepts are being set I and others within my community are 
concerned that behind closed doors councillors could still have the 
opportunity to add their vote to the precept.

Have Somerset Independents advanced any further with their investigations in this matter?.  I am trying to uncover if summons have been sent and payment of arrears has been settled by our councillors.  

Thank You"

Councillor Robin Pailthorpe
DID NOT PAY UP!

Councillor Ben Hodgson
DID NOT PAY UP!

According to the information that South Somerset District Council EVENTUALLY gave us,  as of 29th April 2021, Councillor Robin Pailthorpe (Liberal Democrats):

"Vacated this address with outstanding balance of £1328.66, £470.62 of which is in arrears and subject to a liablility order.  Full balance due 10th May.  Not liable at forwarding address."

And Councillor Ben Hodgson (also Liberal Democrats):

"£834.22 in arrears, £678.46 relates to last financial year.  Application for disregard in progress but SMI application will be turned down"

We will be publishing more details of the arrears of other councillors.

Andrew Pope
Leader of Council Tax Investigation

Andrew Pope, who is leading the investigation, says:

"The Information Commissioner's Office has confirmed to me that they will be investigating South Somerset District Council further, because  the council failed to give us the information that we asked for.

Not only did they fail to give it to us, I had to complain to the ICO to get any movement from the council. It has taken months.

It is in the public interest that this information on councillors who have not paid, is published and in full.

That is why we at Somerset Independents are continuing our investigation.

The public pay their council tax and the public deserve to know about their councillors and what their council officers do to protect councillors who have done wrong."