Wychavon District Council has been granted additional powers to collect debts from tax dodgers.

A liability order has been granted, which will give Wychavon District Council various powers in order to recover the debt owed by more than 100 people in the area.

Originally the council had applied for orders for 249 defendants.

Since then, 23 orders have been withdrawn and 49 accounts paid.

Consequently, a total of 177 orders were made on Friday, February 4, for non-payment of council tax and costs.

Furthermore, the council was granted 27 liability orders for non-payment of non-domestic, or business, rates.

Non-domestic rates are taxes charged on properties outside of the council’s boundaries, such as shops, offices, pubs, warehouses, factories and holiday rental homes.

Wychavon had originally applied for 64 orders but 18 were since withdrawn and a further 19 paid.

Speaking before the orders were granted, Jayne Pickering, deputy chief executive for Wychavon District Council, explained that they had been left with no other choice than to take the matter to court.

“We always give everybody an opportunity to pay, and support is available for those who genuinely need it,” she said.

“But we have a duty to taxpayers to make sure we are making every effort to recover money owed as non-payment means less money is available to fund essential services.

“Court action is a last resort though.”