MORE than £10 million in council tax went unpaid in the last four years - and the collection rate is falling year on year.
Northampton Borough Council has, on average, struggled to pick up over £2.5m a year since 2008 from those who do not pay their bills.
In 2010/11, £2.38m went uncollected - which was 2.04 per cent of the total council tax bill.
The previous year, £2.95m - or 1.96 per cent of the overall bill - had to be chased up by the council.
The year before that, £2.37m was not paid at a ‘non-collection’ rate of 1.91 per cent.
In 2007/08, the rate was just 1.7 per cent, with £2.35m collected.
This year the council said it expects to collect 98 per cent of council tax payments from Northampton’s 91,500 homes.
The council says it is seeking to secure the unpaid tax through recovery action and setting up payment arrangements.
But some is written off due to problems with tracing non-payers and residents’ difficult financial circumstances.
Councillor Alan Bottwood said: “We do understand that in the current economic climate there are people who are struggling to pay their bills and manage their money, and we are working more closely with Community Law and Citizens Advice Bureau.
"This has helped us direct people to debt advisors earlier, and work out affordable payment plans for those who are finding it difficult to pay.
“We will continue to be supportive for those people who can’t pay, and take action against those who won’t.
“If you need help or would like to talk about your council tax bill, please call us on 0300 330 7000."
