East Yorkshire council tax debt hits £21million mark


According to figures released by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, residents owe more than £21m in council tax arrears.
The free independent debt advice service is calling on anyone worried about their council tax bills to seek advice as soon as possible.
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Hide AdAs 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, this has also led to higher bills overall, creating ‘a vicious cycle for many people already struggling to pay’.
25% of people who call National Debtline for advice have council tax debt, averaging £1,958 per person – making it one of the top three most common debts its advisers hear about.
Steve Vaid, chief executive at Money Advice Trust, the charity that runs National Debtline, said: “Unless changes are made at a policy level, arrears are likely to keep climbing.
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Hide Ad"At National Debtline, we’re calling for improved collection practices, as well as greater investment in council tax support schemes, to prevent people falling behind in the first place.
“I would urge anyone in East Yorkshire worried about their council tax, or any other bills, to seek free, independent advice from National Debtline. Our advisers are here to help and can talk you through your options.”
Councillor Nigel Wilkinson, cabinet member for finance said: “The figures for council tax arrears include both the current year, as well as past year debts. “At 31 March 2025, the council had collected 97.4% of the total council tax billed for the year, which is above the national average for local authorities.
“The council works to help any residents who are struggling to pay, and there’s a range of support available, including flexible payment plans, access to council tax support for eligible residents, and free, confidential advice through the Your Money team. We strongly encourage anyone struggling with their council tax payments to contact us early so we can work together to prevent debts from escalating.
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Hide Ad“Council tax is vital to funding over 650 essential local services such as adult social care, children's services, education, and waste collection. We remain committed to managing public money responsibly while offering support to those who need it most.” Your Money advisors offer free and confidential calls to support our residents in difficulty and appointments can be booked at: eastriding.gov.uk/your-money.