by Anika Bourley and Jo Winrow T&A Reporters More than £9 million of council tax still remains uncollected across Bradford as of the end of the financial year – ranking it in the top ten worst authorities for percentage of money collected.

According to figures released by the Conservatives, the Council collected £144.3m between April last year and March this year – 93.9 per cent of the estimated £153.6m demanded.

It means £9.366m was not paid by residents who owe the Council cash.

Bradford’s collection rate ranks it as the tenth worst authority based on the percentage of monies collected, significantly below the England average of 97.3 per cent.

Bradford Council leader Councillor Ian Greenwood said: “The increase in the council tax arrears owed to Bradford Council for the year 2010 to 2011 is due to two factors.

“One is the increase in council tax for 2010-2011 and the other is the impact of removing the 50 per cent discount for owners of houses that have been empty for more than six months.

“This led to us having to collect an extra £4.8 million. Despite that, the actual percentage of debt collected increased from 93.6 per cent in the previous year to 93.9 per cent in 2010-2011.

“Clearly we are very unhappy if there’s a single penny outstanding but we do everything we can to enable people to pay and pursue those that refuse to. It’s something we take very seriously.

“We have absolutely no tolerance of people that don’t pay. They should pay because if they don’t the rest of us have to make up the shortfall.”

The Tory figures show the top ten offenders are Labour boroughs and of the ten councils with the best collection rates, nine are Conservative.

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