A QUARTER of Monmouthshire County Councillors had to be prompted by reminder letters to pay their council tax in the past year.

Information revealed through a Freedom of Information request sent to local authorities in Wales showed that 12 out of 43 elected representatives in Monmouthshire had to be reminded to pay a total £5,576.38 in outstanding council tax - the worst out the 15 councils who responded to the request.

The 12 councillors includes, one is a Labour councillor, two Independent/Plaid Cymru, seven Conservative, one Cabinet member and one member whose political party has not be stated.

Labour leader Jim Higginson said that the councillors in question should not have been allowed to make decisions whilst they owed the council money, he said "I don't condone anyone, particularly, councillors not to pay council tax.

They can't, in essence, be part of a decision making body whilst in arrears."

Monitoring Officer Murray Andrews added, "The council provides a range of facilities for all council tax payers so that a collection rate of over 99 per cent of the amounts due is achieved. It would be inappropriate to comment on particular council taxpayers, either individually or otherwise."

An average band D householder is required to pay £1,191.18 in council tax.

John O'Connell, research director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said, "Councillors are often quick to talk tough and clamp down on residents who haven't paid but that is a bit rich when there are so many that haven't paid themselves."

The Chronicle contacted all party leaders for a comment but at the time of going to Press only the Labour leader was available.