BOSSES at Worcester City Council have apologised to homeowners in Warndon and St Peter’s after their council tax bills were set too high by mistake.
The error, which stems from government changes to council tax in the current financial year, means an average Band D bill in Warndon parish will be £1.01 higher than expected for the whole of 2014/15 and 66 pence more in St Peter’s.
Lesley Meagher, Worcester City Council’s director of resources, said it was too late to correct the bills.
“On behalf of Worcester City Council, I would like to apologise to the parishes and their residents for this error,” she said.
“Unfortunately for legal reasons it is too late to change the bills for 2014/15.
“The parish councils could compensate their residents in 2015/16 if they choose to raise a lower amount through Council Tax when they come to consider their budgets.”
For a St Peter’s Band D household it means the parish council element of their bill for the whole of 2014/15 is £16.18 – 66p higher than the expected £15.50.
In Warndon, the parish council element of a Band D bill is £22.57 – £1.01 higher than the expected £21.56.
The mistake means St Peter’s Parish Council will receive £1,168 more than expected this year and Warndon Parish Council will receive an extra £3,227.
