Former North Somerset Council Leader Don Davies Denies Being in Arrears on His Council Tax

Independent Councillor
Don Davies

Somerset Independents puts residents first. When we heard that former North Somerset Council Leader Don Davies had resigned suddenly as Leader (reportedly a "bolt from the blue"), we wondered whether it was anything to do with our investigation into councillors who did not pay their council tax for months or even over years. 

We were wondering this because we were still waiting, after many weeks, for the Council to respond to our request for an Internal Review into their flawed initial response to our Freedom of Information (FoI) request on councillors in arrears on council tax. 

And the day after he resigned, when he had just given his interviews to Heather Pickstock of SomersetLive (Reach), and Carrington Walker of the Weston Mercury (Archant), we finally got our response from the Council.

What a remarkable coincidence, wouldn't you agree?

And added to this was the fact that Cllr Davies was not at the Budget Full Council in February 2022, having given apologies for attendance. We know that at least one councillor at North Somerset Council who was in arrears, was also not in attendance at that meeting. This way, they would not have to declare their arrears, as they are required by law to do. We've seen councillors elsewhere in Somerset commit this ruse.

And we have had it confirmed by North Somerset Council directly that other councillors who were in arrears during the previous financial year, were in attendance - whether virtually or in person. But these recalcitrant councillors did not declare their arrears, as confirmed by North Somerset Council in writing to us.

So we asked Cllr Davies directly. Former Council Leader Councillor Don Davies told us:

"I was not at the meeting as I was away on leave; my council tax is not and has not been in arrears. It was entirely my own decision to not stand again as Leader and the reports in the media that I have seen explain why.  Quite rightIy I am unaware of all FOI requests at the council.

I trust that answers your questions.

Best wishes

Don"

It did not answer all of our questions. We have gone back to Councillor Davies to ask him to answer our individual questions. 

We will be publishing the names of the councillors who were in arrears.

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