Newspaper wins FTT hearing over naming of unpaid council tax councillor

A local newspaper has gained a hearing at the Upper Tier Tribunal over whether Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council should disclose details of a councillor twice in council tax arrears.

The Bolton News has sought to identify the unnamed Labour councillor who was summonsed over bills totalling £1,975.

It lost its case for disclosure with the council, an internal review, the Information Commissioner and the First Tier Tribunal but will now take the case higher.

According to the paper, the councillor was summonsed first for not paying £936 in council tax, but this was withdrawn after they paid the bill.

They were sent a further order in 2012-13 for failing to pay £1,039.89, which was also withdrawn, this time after the individual concerned entered a payment plan with the council.

The paper said Kate Markus QC would decide in October if the council should provide a list of what issues were considered when the summonses were withdrawn. Further hearings could then take place on naming the councillor.

A council spokesman said: “We are currently in a legal process and it would be inappropriate for us to comment.”