Commenting on information obtained by BBC Wales, which reveals councils have written off 8.5 million pounds in uncollected business rates and 6.6 million pounds in uncollected council tax in the last financial year, Shadow Minister for Local Government Janet Finch-Saunders AM, said:

“Failure to collect means higher bills for others and a double whammy for businesses and households.

“The Labour government’s business rates scheme is flawed and failing to recognise the needs of small businesses and – despite council tax freezes in England and Scotland – Labour stubbornly refuses to do the same here.

“That means those who could be forced to subsidise this written off debt are already getting a raw deal and paying too much. That’s unfair and unacceptable.

“While we cannot expect 100 per cent collection rates, this amount of written off debt is extremely significant and clearly has the potential to make a huge difference to frontline services.

“In times of public spending restraint, local authorities should leave no stone unturned in efforts to collect.”