WARRINGTON Borough Council has written off £249,831 in council tax debts from 2003-04 as part of a review of old age amounts outstanding.

During the same period more than 99 per cent of council tax was collected, equating to £56.9 million.

The council has also written off £201,426 in miscellaneous income and £32,465 in housing benefit overpayments from October last year to this March.

Next Tuesday, the council’s audit and corporate governance committee will receive a report detailing the debt which will no longer be collected.

Debt is usually written off when the debtor has died or left the area with no trace but this option is only used when all other methods of collection have been exhausted.

As an annual income the council collects £88 million in council tax, £107 million in business rates, £54 million in miscellaneous income and £2 million in housing benefit overpayment.

Lynton Green, director of finance and information services at the council, said: “While we have a fantastic record of collecting a high proportion of council tax, it is inevitable that occasionally we have to write off some debts.

“The council takes every action available before writing off a small number of debts which it is no longer economical to pursue.”

The report will be reviewed by the committee on Tuesday in the council chamber at the Town Hall at 6.30pm.