Commissioner Gives Council 10 Days to Respond to Questions over Councillors Who Have Not Paid Council Tax

Questions over councillors who have failed to pay council tax has seen the the UK Information Commissioner step in following a failure by Westmorland and Furness Council to comply with a Freedom of Information request submitted to the council in November 2024.

The request asked the council to provide a list of all elected councillors who have failed to pay (either late or non-payment) of Council Tax over the last 23-24 financial years and likewise for the current financial year 24-25
The request also asked for a list of all elected councillors who have received a court summons regarding the non-payment or late payment of Council Tax over the same financial periods along with the name of the elected individual and the amount that is/was overdue or not paid.

Westmorland and Furness Council confirmed receipt of the request on the 4th November 2024 and confirmed that the council was required to provide the information within the statutory timescale of 20 working days that required the council to provide the information or refuse the request by the 2nd December 2024.

The council provided an apologise for delays in replying to the request in early December claiming the councils revenues team had been asked for an update.

Following the council’s failure to respond and provide the requested information a complainant was lodged with the information commissioner last week.

In a letter seen by Penrith.Town the Information Commissioner has now written to Westmorland and Furness council and issued a directive to provide a substantive response to the freedom of information request within 10 working days and also provide a copy of the response to the Information Commissioner directly.

The Information Commissioner has also warned the council that if the commissioner does not receive a response from the council within 10 working days of the date of the letter dated the 12th February 2025, a decision notice finding a breach of Freedom of Information Act will be issued compelling the council to respond to the request will be issued.

The council will be required to respond to the freedom on information request 24 hours before Westmorland and Furness Council meet on the 27th February in Kendal to approve a 4.99% council tax increase for household across the council district for 2025/26 for the councils share and set the overall council tax bills for each parish area including the police, fire and parish precepts.

If the council fails to provide the response it could find its self facing sanctions for failure to comply with the Information Commissioner’s directions and the Freedom of Information Act.