Sykes writes to council Chief Executive after members of the council failed to make council tax payments
The Leader of Oldham Council’s Liberal Democrat Opposition councillor Howard Sykes MBE has written to the Council’s Chief Executive following the recent news that several serving Oldham councillors have received legal summons after failing to make council tax payments.
Three Oldham councillors are reported to be in breach of council tax rules. One from Labour, one from the Failsworth Independent Party, as well as another Independent councillor.
In his letter to the Civic Centre boss Harry Catherall, councillor Sykes said, “Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 makes it an offence for a councillor who is in council tax arrears to vote at a meeting of the council where financial matters relating to council tax are being considered.”
The Liberal Democrat Leader has sought assurances from Mr Catherall that members of the council who were in council tax arrears took steps to exclude themselves from decisions on financial matters. He also asks if any extra costs have been incurred as a result of late payments.
Councillor Sykes said, “The public deserve to have every confidence that their elected representatives are upholding the law. At a time of immense financial pressure for our residents, these reports only serve to further heighten public anger and mistrust in the council.”
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More on Oldham councillors missing council tax payments
Three Oldham councillors missed a council tax bill recently | The Oldham Times
Sykes writes to Oldham’s Chief Executive
21/01/24
Harry Catherall
Chief Executive of Oldham Council
Dear Mr Catherall,
RE: Councillors in receipt of council tax summons
I am writing to express concern at the recent news that several serving Oldham councillors have received legal summons because of failing to make council tax payments.
As you will know, section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 makes it an offence for a councillor who is in council tax arrears (with at least two months unpaid bills) to vote at a meeting of the council, a committee, or cabinet meeting where financial matters relating to council tax are being considered. It is also an offence if any such councillor present, who is aware of the arrears, fails to disclose that they are in arrears of council tax.
I ask that you therefore clarify the position relating to each individual members of Oldham Council who is affected.
- In the case of each, were members present at meetings relating to council tax?
- Did members disclose their position in relation to council tax arrears?
- Where votes were held, did members excuse themselves from those votes?
The public deserve to have every confidence that their elected representatives are upholding the law. It does great reputational damage to Oldham Council when elected members are brought into disrepute over council tax and contravenes several of the Nolan principles for standards in public life.
At a time of immense financial pressure for our residents, these reports only serve to further heighten public anger and mistrust.
Therefore, I am also writing to ask whether Oldham Council has incurred any further costs in relation to outstanding council tax among elected members or in relation to collecting backdated council tax from councillors.
I look forward to your response.
Best wishes.
Councillor Howard Sykes MBE