Over 96.1 per cent of homes now contributing
Hammersmith & Fulham is claiming the highest Council Tax collection rate in inner London - over 96 per cent.
Despite its transient population H&F Council now has the best council tax collection levels in inner London which they claim is down to improved efficiency over the past 12 months.
With 96.1 per cent of homes now contributing it is good news for the borough's taxpayers as the tax burden is spread over a greater number of people.
Cllr Paul Bristow, Cabinet Member for Residents' Services, says, "Paying council tax is rarely on anyone's list of favourite things to do but our efficient service makes it as painless as possible. We are on the way to becoming a low tax borough and high collection rates will help us keep taxation down in the long run by spreading the burden fairly over everyone and not just a few. Hammersmith & Fulham is now the benchmark by which other inner London councils should measure themselves."
The council is continuing to clamp down on non-payment by taking tax evaders to court and this is one of the reasons for the improvement.
Cllr Bristow concludes, "We are pursuing the tax cheats relentlessly. Working with the Police and the courts we are catching the fraudsters on a regular basis."
Hammersmith & Fulham's council tax collection rate is 96.1%, above joint second placed Kensington & Chelsea and Wandsworth both on 95.8% and well above the London average of 94.3%.
A total of £74.2million was collected in council tax by Hammersmith & Fulham in 2006/07.
July 7, 2007