Dundee councillors failing to pay council tax on time

At least four councillors in Dundee have been failing to pay their council tax on time, it has emerged.

In total, notices have been served to councillors on at least seven occasions to tell them they have missed council tax payments.

In 2010-11, three councillors did not pay their tax on time and in each of the following financial years, and in the first nine months of this year, one elected member has been warned by the authorities.

No fewer than 20 of the current 29 councillors and one former councillor have denied missing payments, while Strathmartine councillor and education convener Stewart Hunter blamed his failure to pay on an administration problem while moving house.

Mr Hunter said: “I can admit I might have missed one. It was about two years ago. I had an issue when I moved house and my tax went up.

“I paid by direct debit and the extra I had to pay didn’t go through in time. I knew the tax was going up but I had presumed it would be sorted as I paid by direct debit.”

The figures also revealed that 826 council employees had an “earning arrestment” in the same time period due to council tax arrears.