Muammar Al Khadafi

Interesting news courtesy of a freedom of information request submitted by Cornish news outlet "The Packet" - that close on 1 in 7 councillors on Cornwall Council failed to pay their council tax on time, and that at least one of these had court action taken against them.

The FoI request revealed that 17 out of 123 councillors on the authority had been sent reminder letters after failing to pay a total of £5,388.80.

Of those another 14 had to be sent second reminder letters, covering a total outstanding sum of £4,070.74.

At least one of these then ended up on the receiving end of court action to recover outstanding council tax owed, although the council refused to divulge further information, saying that it would breach the Data Protection Act..

The Packet has currently appealed against this decision and is awaiting a decision.

"The councillors involved in this scandal should be ashamed that they have allowed this to happen. It's outrageous that councillors who claim taxpayers money in allowances are failing to pay their own council tax bill" said Robert Oxley of the Taxpayers Alliance.

Great example these 17 are setting to the rest of us, the average person who is expected to pay their tax on time.

If those holding public office can't manage it then what right have they got to expect the rest of us to do it?