HDC Council tax summonses sent out in error

The leader of the opposition on Harborough District Council says residents are due a public apology – and further explanation – after the
authority issued around seven hundred Council Tax summonses in error.

Shocked householders in the district started to receive the notifications last week – before then being informed it was a mistake.

A Council officer reported: “This was a processing error – in that the ‘key’ step of statutory reminders was accidentally missed.”

The statement adds that: “All persons impacted have been written to, including an apology, and informed that the summons have been withdrawn including costs.”

But Councillor Phil Knowles says: “Yes, I’m advised apologies have been issued but I wonder if, as soon as this matter was spotted, the Council did take the opportunity to put out reassuring statements to the public on Social Media?  If not, why not? At the very least that would have offered a contribution to a speedy way of widely calming concerns – concerns that will undoubtedly have impacted on all involved. I wonder why this 700 figure didn’t seem to trigger alarm bells on the system before the 700 documents were sent out?” He adds: “There are more questions to be asked and more answers needed!”