Uncollected council tax

The GMB trade union will shortly be releasing details of "uncollected council tax" in all local authorities across Great Britain. This is calculated by subtracting the council tax received last year from what was billed.

Councils can be defensive about this issue, but the GMB regularly points to legal restrictions which make it more difficult for local authorities to collect what is due promptly, for example when tenants rent from a landlord and also when they move from that property.

In Glasgow, the City Council recently announced that more council tax bills are being paid than ever before, with collection rates in 2009/10 at their highest ever levels.

The increase is particularly encouraging during the economic downturn and in securing major year-on-year revenue collection improvements, Glasgow is bucking the trend.

However, it is crucial that everyone pays their fair share and it is the council's duty to spend the public's money efficiently on what is important. In Glasgow, our priorities are education, jobs and the economy along with targeted support of our most vulnerable.

The Council is trying to make it as easy as possible to pay Council Tax and to claim any rebates, but it will also vigorously pursue those who try to dodge their share.

I am currently a member of Scottish Labour's Local Taxation Working Group and previously took part in the City Council's cross-party assessment of a wide range of taxes potentially able to fund local services for Glasgow.

The GMB again raises important issues as we consider the future of local taxation in Scotland.