BROMSGROVE District Council is owed over £7 million in council tax arrears due to unmade payments stacking up since 1993, new data released on Wednesday (June 25) has revealed.
Constituents in Bromsgrove owe the council a combined total of over £7.3 million in unpaid council tax bills, according to figures released by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Goverment.
Brosmgrove District Council achieved a 99.5 per cent collection rate over the years, while their remaining arrears form part of a national total of £6.6 billion.
The council is also responsible for collecting council tax on behalf of other organisations such as the police and fire service.
A Bromsgrove District Council Spokesperson said: “The Council is committed to taking all appropriate actions to collect and enforce the payment of council tax.
“The Council continues to monitor and review its collection processes to ensure fairness, efficiency, and support for those in genuine need.”
Charity National Debtline suggests that as council budgets have become more stretched, they are increasingly reliant on council tax revenue to fund essential services like social care, local schools and rubbish collections.
However, they believe this has also led to higher bills overall, creating a vicious cycle for many people already struggling to pay.
Recent Money Advice Trust research also reveals as of March 2025, 2.2 million people in England (5 per cent) were behind on their council tax bill, suggesting many more people could be struggling with council tax arrears who have not yet sought help.
National Debtline, a financial support charity, is now calling for improved collection practices as well as greater investment in council tax support schemes to prevent people falling behind to begin with.
Steve Vaid, chief executive at Money Advice Trust, who run the National Debtline, said: “Unwaveringly high arrears levels in Bromsgrove and across England underline the need for urgent action.
“Councils have a vital role in helping residents with unmanageable bills and to ensure council tax – crucial to funding local services – is collected in a way that is fair and affordable.”
Current rules mean households can become liable for their full annual council tax bill if they miss one payment, which often results in a quick escalation to bailiff action.
Last week, the Government set out proposals to extend this period, so people have more time to engage and seek support – something National Debtline has welcomed, after years of campaigning for this change.
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Justice also announced plans to consult on giving the Enforcement Conduct Board legal powers to regulate the bailiff industry, with millions of council tax debts passed to bailiffs every year.
National Debtline strongly welcomes these developments after a decade of campaigning for independent bailiff regulation and for changes to the archaic council tax collection process.
The charity says progress in this area will help reduce financial hardship, bring down arrears and make a big difference to households struggling to keep up with their bills.
A BDC spokesperson added: “Council Taxpayers who are experiencing difficulties in making payments should contact the council so that we can help to support them to make payment.”
Visit www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/residents/money-education-skills/council-tax/ for more information.
Visit www.nationaldebtline.org or call 0808 808 4000 for free, independent, expert debt advice.
