The tax-paying public of Liverpool has a '"right to know" the identities of two elected Liverpool Councillors who were summoned to court over failures to pay Council Tax.
This weekend, a Liverpool ECHO investigation revealed that during the course of the past five financial years, two elected councillors in the city received a court summons regarding the non-payment or late payment of Council Tax. That information was released to us following a Freedom of Information request to the city council.
However, despite the public interest involved and the precedent of previous cases, the city council has refused to release to us the names of the two elected members involved or any further details regarding their identities. This is a decision we have challenged, calling for an internal review from the city council.
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If that process does not reveal the identities of the councillors involved, then we will escalate the matter to the office of the Information Commissioner and will consider the legal avenues available. Councillors facing court summons over a failure to pay Council Tax is a serious issue.
Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act bars a councillor from voting on the council's budget if he or she has an outstanding Council Tax debt of over two months. Failure to comply with this is a criminal offence. Opposite parties are putting pressure on council bosses to be transparent and release the names of those involved.
Cllr Alan Gibbons, who leads the Liverpool Community Independents group on Liverpool Council said: "There is a possibility councillors who failed to pay their council tax on time voted on a maximum council tax rise. We all understand that mistakes can be made, but the public has the right to examine the issue and make its mind up on the conduct of councillors. Liverpool City Council continues to have a problem with transparency."
This followed comments from Liberal Democrat boss Cllr Carl Cashman, who said the decision from the council "smacks of the cover-up and hide away attitude" of previous eras at the local authority. He added: "City Councillors are voting for huge increases to people’s Council Tax year after year but some haven’t even paid their own Council Tax.
"The public have a right to know that when they're paying in, their elected representatives are paying in too. It is clear that these councillors should be named and if they haven't paid up, then they should pack up and resign."
Our investigation led to numerous calls for transparency from members of the public posting on social media this weekend. Simon Dale said: "I really don't see why they refused to release the information. They will obviously be made to. Councils and MP's really do need reminding that they are not above the law."
City charity boss Michelle Langan said: "It is appalling that the council are withholding this info. Hopefully the ICO will overturn." Jeremy Hawthorn added: "It is in the interest of all the other councillors that these two be named. It may not be that big a deal. But In holding out, the council makes a mountain out of molehill and leaves all councillors under a cloud."
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