Property owners owe huge amount of rates in Moyle

A Council report said correspondence has been received from Land and Property Services providing an update of 'Aged Debt' for the Moyle District Council area.

Land and Property Services collect rates on behalf of Moyle Council and other councils in Northern Ireland.

The report said: 'There has been a significant increase in debt in the 2009 year, 233 per cent, with the total debt increasing from 320,559 at the end of 2008 to 1,101,668 at the end of 2009. The largest increases being in the Ballylough, Bonamargy & Rathlin and Glenshesk Wards.'

The percentage increase in debt for the various Council wards in Moyle district between 2008 and 2009 were as follows: Armoy - 225 per cent; Ballylough - 833 per cent; Bonamargy & Rathlin - 703 per cent; Bushmills - 289 per cent; Carnmoon - 243 per cent; Dalriada - 173 per cent; Dunseverick - 383 per cent; Glenaan - 386 per cent; Glenariff - 138 per cent; Glendun - 121 per cent; Glenshesk - 471 per cent; Glentaisie - 128 per cent; Kinbane - 217 per cent; Knocklayd - 140 per cent; Mosside and Moyarget - 118 per cent.

Moyle Council's Assistant Chief Executive and Head of Corporate Services, Moira Quinn, told the Times: "In terms of reasons for the increase in debt, the economic climate is the most significant.

"There were also system problems which hampered recovery activity for Land and Property Services, leading to an increase in debt. "Specific Ministerial targets are now set for debt recovery and this has been given high priority," she said.

The arrears figure in Moyle brought forward at 31 March 2009 was 711,997. Of that amount 320,559 was outstanding at 8 March 2010. Therefore 391,438 aged debt collected during the year and 320,559 was carried forward into the 2009/10. This figure is then split to reflect the spread of debt over the years 2005-2008/9.

In addition current year debt at 8 March 2010 amounted to 781,109 and therefore potential total debt in the district amounts to 1,101,668.

In a Land and Property Services report, Chief Executive John Wilkinson said in June last year: "The Agency collected a record 940 million in rates, which represented an increase of 60 million from the previous year. Disappointingly, we missed our target to collect 98% of the net rates payable for 2008—09 by 31 March 2009, instead collecting 92.4%.

"This was due in part to a large amount of new assessments that we created from October 2008 onwards, as well as the current economic climate making the collection challenge more difficult. However, recovery action continues for all ratepayers who have not yet paid or agreed a payment arrangement. Once again this reflects the difficult economic situation in which we are operating.

"As always, we will work closely with our parent department, the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP), to deliver the Reform Programme so that public services continue to be improved and developed for the benefit of the Northern Ireland citizen," said Mr Wilkinson.