THE amount of uncollected council tax in Warrington has more than doubled in the past five years, according to new figures.

Data obtained under a Freedom of Information request by the Warrington Guardian showed that £1.1million was lost in uncollected taxes in 2015/16, compared to £2.4million in 2018/19.

However, as a portion of the total council tax, the amount unpaid was 1.16 per cent in 2015/16 – rising to 2.1 per cent in 2018/19.

Warrington Borough Council says that the figure for the 2019/20 financial year, which has just passed, stood at £3.66million at its finish.

Officials also said they continue to collect outstanding tax after the conclusion of a given financial year, with £1.1 million owed from 2018/19 being recouped in 2019/20.

And it is thought that the coronavirus outbreak may have had an impact on payments being made in early 2020.

A council spokesman told the Warrington Guardian: “There is a small upwards trend, but there is no one factor behind this.

"However, an increase towards the end of 2019/20 may be the result of residents being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"We continue to support households affected by the impact of Covid-19.

"The council’s benefit service has seen a large spike in applications for council tax support, and the team have awarded £370,000 in council tax hardship payments since the beginning of April."

Council tax is a charge levied by local authorities to help pay for services such adult social care, refuse collections, and leisure activities.

By law, councils can only raise rates by two per cent per year.