MORE than £1.5million has been written off in unpaid council tax by authorities across south Essex, according to new figures.

However, council bosses say there are many factors which affect the figures and the collection rate of council tax across the area is higher than 90 per cent.

The Government figures show the highest outstanding amount is in Southend, where £614,000 had to be written off last year, while the lowest was in Rochford, at just £40,000.

Brian Kelly, Southend councillor responsible for resources, said: "When you consider the amount involved, then the figure remains good and we are proud of our collection rate. This figure includes people who have died during the year and have no cash estate and there are people who disappear.

"In some cases, it could be immigrants who return to their own countries and there are situations where there is nothing we can do.

"However, we will take action when it is possible and people are just trying to avoid paying their council tax."

Basildon Council leader Malcolm Buckley said there were cases with business rates, which the council did not even receive, but only collected on behalf of the Government, where businesses closed down or went bankrupt and it was impossible to claim anything from them.

He said: "We do pursue companies and individuals for debts on both business rate and council tax and do our best to ensure it is collected wherever possible."