Council Tax Collection Rates, 2009-10

Statistics on Council tax collection rates by Welsh unitary authorities include data on amounts collected, written off and outstanding both for in-year and for previous years. The latest release updates the statistics previously released on 18 June 2009.

The key points from the latest release are:

• Welsh billing authorities collected 96.4% of council tax bills in 2009-10, the same level as in  2008-09.
• 10 of the 22 billing authorities recorded an increase in their collection rate in 2009-10 compared with 2008-09.
• Denbighshire recorded the highest in-year collection rate at 98.2% whilst Cardiff recorded the lowest at 94.6%.
• The amount actually collected in respect of 2009-10 bills, excluding council tax benefit, was £1,018 million out of £1,056 million collectable.
• £37 million of the amounts billed for in 2009-10 remained outstanding at 31 March 2010.
• During 2009-10, billing authorities collected £25 million of arrears in respect of previous years, writing off £6 million as bad debts in the process.
• The total amount outstanding at 31 March 2010 was £81 million.  This represents an increase of 3.9% over the previous year.  Blaenau Gwent showed the highest level of council tax outstanding per chargeable dwelling at £113.

Further information

StatsWales website

Contact

Tel: 029 2082 3963
E-mail: stats.finance@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Next update

June 2011 (provisional - to be confirmed on the 'Due Out Soon' page)