Two councillors were issued court summons over late payment of council tax over a three-year period.

Data secured from a freedom of information request revealed a total of four Waltham Forest councillors were issued notices of late payment.

In 2016/17 Cllr Keith Rayner, was issued a summons to court for late payment of £528, earlier in the year he had been issued a reminder for late payment of £264.

The summons was later withdrawn; both Cllr Rayner and the council declined to comment on the matter.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Keith Rayner. Photo: Waltham Forest Council

Cllr Rayner, who is chair of the budget performance and scrutiny committee, had also been issued two notices for late payment in 2015/16 for £287.21 and £147.91.

The Cann Hall ward councillor received a councillor’s allowance of £18,138.57 in the year 2017/18.

Cllr Raja Anwar was issued a summons to court for unpaid council tax of £198.42 – earlier in the year he had been issued a notice for late payment of £53.42.

The High Street ward councillor paid the owed money before the hearing.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Raja Anwar. Photo: Waltham Forest Council

And in 2017/18, Cllr Anwar, who is paid an allowance of £10,425.48, was issued a notice for late payment of £66.00

He did not respond to comment.

Cllr Jemma Hemsted was issued a notice for late payment of £83.58 in 2016/17.

The Valley ward councillor said: “This covered a period when I moved house within the borough and there was an error made when increasing my direct debits to cover my new higher rate of council tax.

“I'm sure anyone will recognise this is as an extremely busy time and unfortunately these oversights do and can happen. It is quite evident that after receiving notice of this error it was rectified immediately.”

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Jemma Hemsted. Photo: Waltham Forest Council

The data obtained from the council showed Cllr Kastriot Berberi was issued a notice for late payment in £104.21 2017/18.

The councillor for Forest Ward said: “I have checked the official records which I possess… and I can officially confirm that I have successfully paid on time and in full.

“Your incorrect claim may reflect any technical administration error made by the relevant department of the Waltham Forest council, which might have been rectified by them, with or without my knowledge, for which I am not responsible at all.”

Waltham Forest Council said it would not comment on matters relating to individual’s payment of council tax.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Kastriot Berberi. Photo: Waltham Forest Council

A spokesman for the Local Government Association said: “Local authorities have a responsibility to all taxpayers to ensure that council tax is collected.

“Town halls pursuing councillors for non-payment demonstrates nobody is above the law.

“Many councils also act early when councillors get into arrears by deducting money from their allowances.”

Minister for local government and homelessness, MP Luke Hall, added: “Locally elected representatives, at all levels, should seek to inspire confidence and have the trust of the people who elect them.

“All residents, including councillors, should pay their council tax to help fund our precious local services and every local authority is required to adopt a code of conduct for all council members.”

.