Telford council wins legal case against £150,000 unpaid business rates

TELFORD & Wrekin Council has said its decision to pursue a local businessman following his failure to pay business rates has been justified.

In January this year, the council obtained a Liability Order from the magistrates court in relation to unpaid business rates against John Byrne, who was trading as ‘Cards & Gifts’ in Telford Shopping Centre.

The council said the unpaid rates for the premises amounted to almost £150,000 and stretched back to 2011.

Byrne had asked for the order to be set aside but after a two day court hearing at Shrewsbury, the court found in favour of the council.

Byrne had claimed that limited companies, of which he had been a director, occupied the premises and that the council should pursue the limited companies for the unpaid rates rather than himself.

However, the magistrates said that Byrne’s evidence was vague and at times, contradictory.

The council said the liability order amounted to £148,926.69.

The council will also get back the legal costs it incurred, which it said was in the region of £6,000.

Cllr Lee Carter, cabinet member for Council Finance and Service Delivery, said: “The council has a responsibility to all taxpayers and ratepayers in the borough and is actively pursuing unpaid business rates from companies or individuals.

“Any monies recovered which are due to the council will be reinvested in key front line services to offset the impact of £30m cuts faced by the council over the next three years.”

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