Vale gets tough on people not paying parish rates

More than 20 payments are outstanding, with the parish owed about £4,000.

Now Petty Debts Court summons have been sent to people owing the five largest amounts.

Constable Richard Leale said this was not an easy step for them.

‘We’ve always been very reluctant to go down the route of prosecution,’ he said.

‘We give people every opportunity to pay, but there are always a few people very reluctant to do so.’

The amounts owed to the parish vary from £150 up to £600. The first five petty debts summons were for bills of more than £300.

Mr Leale said they had sent the letters to people who were still in deficit from the previous year.

The letter has already spurred one of the five to pay up and Mr Leale is hopeful the threat of court action will get the others to pay what they owe.

Parish rates cover a number of local benefits, including the collection of bins and street lighting. Mr Leale said it was vital everyone paid.

‘It’s the unfairness of it [if they don’t pay],’ he said.

‘It means that the following year’s rates will be higher to cover the deficit.’

The bills were sent out in May and had to be paid by July. Anyone failing to pay is sent a reminder, then a red-letter bill and then further reminders.

Mr Leale said they were sure the people were aware of the bills, but had then not paid. He added that there was no common profile for the demographic of those who have not paid.

Once the petty debt letters are sent out, debtors have 10 days to respond before the court date. If they have not paid before then, they could face extra costs, such as a summons fee of £60 per named person on the property deeds.

Mr Leale said they were happy to help people if they had a problem paying.

‘If they are struggling to pay, it is better to talk to us,’ he said.

‘It’s confidential and they could pay so much a week or a month for the rates that year. They can pay by cheque, cash or online. We want to make it easy.’