Fife Council, as early as June 2009, took 18,540 people to court for deficiencies in payment of their Council Tax for year 2009 to 2010. That is equivalent to 11.68% of households that are chargeable for council tax. This will also provide an extra income stream for the Council of between £1m and £3m a year because an additional 10% has been added to the non payment amount. Fine for the Council but it makes those who are less well off and cannot afford a Council Tax hike of 10%, seriously out of pocket.

Why are the people of Fife at such a disadvantage when other Councils up and down the country are just getting their reminder letters out now (July/August)? Even worse - why does the Council do things behind Council Tax payers backs? Secretly taking them to court - not telling the good people of Fife what is about to happen. To use twitter speak - not a tweet. Nothing in their letters, Council tax statements or in the local or national press of their intentions to take so many Fifers to court. Probably if they had, Fife Council would have been paid before now and without litigation! The Scottish Government paper 'Striking the Balance' says that organisations should negotiate and not litigate if at all possible in cases of non payment!

(Article by Charles Litster)