COUNCIL tax debt in East Cambridgeshire fell last year by nearly £40,000. The amount of uncollected council tax dropped from £458,000 to £421,000. In Britain as a whole £738 million worth of council tax remains uncollected, including more than £18,000 fro

COUNCIL tax debt in East Cambridgeshire fell last year by nearly £40,000.

The amount of uncollected council tax dropped from £458,000 to £421,000.

In Britain as a whole £738 million worth of council tax remains uncollected, including more than £18,000 from the 20 councils in East Anglia.

Members of the public service union, GMB, recently called on the Labour Party Conference to support changes in the law to help councils collect all outstanding money to improve services.

East Cambridgeshire District Council director of finance Alex Colyer said: "We have been marketing more efficient ways for people to pay. In the last year we have had 1,000 more direct debit payments set up which is cheaper for us and means people do not get reminders or into recovery action.

"There are 300 more people paying on the internet, 350 more by telephone and 200 paying in shops. It means that we can concentrate on those who won't pay or don't contact us to say they are having problems paying.