WARRINGTON Borough Council has been reminded it has a 'responsibility to remain transparent' after refusing to reveal the names of any councillors who may have failed to pay council tax on time.

The authority rejected a Warrington Guardian Freedom of Information (FOI) request asking it to reveal which councillors have been issued with reminders or final notices for late council tax payment in the past four years.

It was also asked to disclose the names of members who have been issued with a court summons for non-payments.

The council said revealing the information requested would be 'unfair' and does 'not outweigh the legitimate public interest in disclosure'.

A spokesman added: "In some circumstances councillors would expect information about them to be placed into the public domain given that they are responsible for major decisions which impact on the town they serve and expenditure of public funds.

"Details of councillors' allowances and expenses are published.

"However, it is considered that councillors would not expect information about a council tax debt – for which they may be co-liable with others not involved in public life – to be released.

"The council has given consideration as to whether it should be within the reasonable expectations of an individual who has taken public office to expect a higher degree of scrutiny and that information which impinges on their public office might be disclosed.

"Failure to pay council tax in a private capacity is likely to impact on public perceptions and confidence in those who have put themselves forward for such a public role.

"As non-payment of council tax for two months debars a councillor voting on budgetary matters, payment of council tax – or more accurately non-payment of council tax – clearly has potential to impinge on how they undertake their role as councillors.

"Accordingly, councillors can expect some information to be disclosed."

Although a number of authorities have not revealed which of its councillors have failed to pay council tax on time, some of them, including Bolton, Bradford and Hull, have provided the information following FOI requests.

And Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, urged councils to be open with residents.

He said: "Council tax has risen considerably across the country and so taxpayers will be rightly angry that their money is being spent on chasing councillors who have failed to lead by example by paying their share on time.

"If some councillors are in financial difficulty then that is one thing but not playing by the rules they themselves set for residents simply cannot be right.

"Councils must also remember that they have a responsibility to remain transparent about these non-payments, so refusal to respond to FOI requests will add to residents' anger and frustration."