The level of Council tax collection in South Ayrshire has reached an all-time high – with 94.85% of the amount billed for the year which ended on March 31, 2006, being collected within the actual 12 months.

The Council’s success rate has been acknowledged by COSLA's Finance Spokesperson Councillor John Pentland when he paid tribute to Scotland's councils for once again collecting a higher proportion of council tax in year than ever before – with South Ayrshire’s collection rate being significantly better than the Scottish average of 93.3%.

Commenting on figures released by the Scottish Government showing the increased rates in collection, Councillor Pentland said: “I am beginning to run out of accolades for Scotland's councils in relation to council tax collection.

"Yet again councils have proved beyond any doubt their commitment to council tax collection. Councils are improving their collection rates year on year but I am particularly happy with the 93.3 per cent figure.

"Despite the record levels collected we are always keen to improve our performance and with councils now introducing a number of measures committed to identifying non payers we are working towards achieving even better collection rates in future years. "

Acknowledging the action of the vast majority of Council tax-payers who pay their Council tax on time, Councillor Gibson T. Macdonald, Leader of South Ayrshire Council said: “Our collection figure has improved year on year and is now at the highest level ever achieved in South Ayrshire.

“It is a tribute to the Council tax payers themselves, and to the Finance Department staff whose duty it is to undertake the collection.”

The rate of collection achieved in South Ayrshire last year exceeded a target collection figure of 94.40%.

South Ayrshire Council’s Chief Executive, Tom Cairns explained: “This effectively means that, within the year in which the Council tax was billed, the Council received payments totalling £204,000 more than had been set as a target figure for collection.”

The Chief Executive also stressed: “The Council will continue to rigorously pursue any Council tax which is owed to the Council and which remains unpaid at the end of any financial year.

“It is important that as much money as possible is collected within the year in which it is billed. The Council will continue to use every legal option and opportunity open to it to recover money owed.

He added: “The more Council tax collected, the more cost effective the delivery of Council services to the people of South Ayrshire.”

July 2006