Vale warns of legal action if overdue rates are not paid
VALE parish officials have warned that nearly 150 households are in danger of receiving a court summons for non-payment of rates this year.
The deadline for payment passed on 7 June but at the beginning of this week, 148 accounts remained in arrears, with the total sum owed being just over £23,000.
‘We really don’t like having to issue these threats,’ said senior constable Richard Leale.
‘But the douzaine is entrusted with the proper oversight of parish funds and paying rates is not optional – it’s a legal requirement.’
Taking people to court was ‘a last resort’ the douzaine said, with court penalties adding to the debt faced by parishioners.
Anyone experiencing difficulties in paying was urged to contact the constables’ office, which offers to take staged payments from those facing financial hardship.
‘The douzaine does everything it can to contain costs and to minimise rates bills,’ Mr Leale said.
‘Having to chase people like this can actually increase what we have to charge people because of the extra work and cost of taking people to court.’
The rate of non-payment is similar to last year, during which the parish did not ultimately have to take anyone to court, as many were prompted to pay on receipt of a summons.
However, Mr Leale said the parish was prepared to take legal action against any non-payer and that he would be happy to see a case go that far, as it might provoke prompter payments and reduce the cost of pursuing late ones.
St Sampson’s had the same deadline date but is only waiting for payment from about 30 households.
Senior constable Paul Le Pelley said parish officials had been very proactive in pursuing payment this year and had addressed anticipated household hardship by holding or reducing the rates over the last four years. However, the parish has already imposed fines on late payers this year.
Castel senior constable Kelvin Hudson said that the parish was in a pretty good situation, with about 50 payments still outstanding.
The Castel also had no cases going all the way to Petty Debts Court last year, with invoices, reminders, final warnings and door-knocking being sufficiently effective to collect all payments. However, Mr Hudson said parish officials would be taking a stronger view this year.
The deadline for the payment of parish rates in St Peter Port is 27 August. Deadlines vary by parish.
