WEST Somerset residents owe a total of £1.1 million on unpaid council tax, new figures have revealed.

The news has prompted a national debt charity to warn that many residents are not receiving to deal with council tax and other debts.

The official government figures show that West Somerset residents owed more than £1 million in unpaid council tax on March 31 this year, which is similar to the previous year.

National Debtline say the fact so much council tax debt is still outstanding is a sign that more residents would benefit from help tackling their financial problems.

In April, overall council tax bills (County, District and Town/Parish and precepting authorities combined) for West Somerset residents rose by 4.6 per cent, meaning the average bill for a Band D household has gone up by £68 from £1,485 in 2015/16 to £1,554 for 2016/17.

National Debtline said it receives around 130 calls each year from residents in West Somerset seeking advice on how to resolve their debt problems, and expects that this number could increase– as 'higher council tax bills add to the pressure for many households who already have stretched budgets'.

Joanna Elson, chief executive of the Money Advice Trust, the charity that runs National Debtline, said: “The level of unpaid Council Tax in West Somerset remains a concern.

"With people in the area now paying 4.60 per cent more in council tax than they were this time last year, there is a risk that residents who are already behind will find it even more difficult to resolve their financial difficulty.

“Council tax is vital in funding the essential local services that we all rely on, and local authorities are already under significant financial pressure – so it is in everyone’s interests that arrears are repaid. 

“Anyone in and around West Somerset who is finding it hard to make their council tax payments should contact National Debtline or a local agency such as Citizens Advice as early as possible. The earlier you seek free advice, the quicker and easier the problem will be to solve.”

However West Somerset Council, who are responsible for collecting council tax bills on behalf of itself, County Council, Police, Fire and Rescue, town and parish authorities, says it wrote off less than £4,000 in council tax due for 2015/16.

"In West Somerset, the total Council Tax to be collected for 2015/16 was over £20 million. We collected 97.4% of this by 31 March 2016, leaving £543,587 outstanding on that date.

"By June 30 2016 this had reduced to £386,731, showing we actively recover Council Tax owed for previous financial years," a spokesman for WSDC said.

"The Council takes a considered approach to debt collection. Our Corporate Debt Policy was compiled with the assistance of the Citizens Advice Bureau to ensure we consider the needs of vulnerable people within our community.

"We attempt to engage with all customers in arrears to make further enquiries into their income and outgoings. We provide flexible arrangements wherever possible." 

National Debtline offers free, independent and confidential advice at www.nationaldebtline.org or by calling 0808 808 4000.