The authority confirmed to the Reporter this week that it would be using the rise in electoral registraion ahead of the independence referendum to check its records.

However, Scotland’s First Minister has said any plans by Scottish councils to collect old Poll Tax debt following were “misguided”.

The Poll Tax, or community charge, was introduced to Scotland in April 1989 and replaced by Council Tax in 1993.

Following an equiry by Reporter this week, a spokeswoman for WDC had confirmed it would be reviewing Poll and Council Tax debtors.

She added: “We have a duty to recover unpaid community charge and Council Tax and regularly use resources such as the electoral register to assist in this task.

“Following the increase in registrations ahead of the referendum we will be reviewing the updated register against our records to identify any outstanding debt.” However, Scottish first minister Alex Salmond said that The Scottish government will bring in new laws to stop councils — like WDC — pursuing people.

Speaking ahead of the First Minister’s announcement, Dumbarton and Vale MSP Jackie Baillie (Labour) said chasing old Poll Tax debt was the ‘wrong message’.

She said: “It is important to encourage people to register to vote and the increase in registration prior to the referendum is to be welcomed.

“I think it would send the wrong message to pursue people for historic poll tax debt given that the poll tax was scrapped over 21-years-ago.

“That said I recognise the council has a responsibility to pursue arrears of Council Tax. Using registration data is just one method by which they do so.

“It is Council Tax that helps to pay for home helps for our older people, teachers for our schools, and maintenance workers to clear our streets.

“Paying Council Tax is therefore important for our local services. If people face difficulty in managing their council tax payments and they need help, there is council tax benefit which they may be eligible to receive.” Speaking today, Alex Salmond said that, more than 20 years since the Poll Tax came to an end, the expanded electoral roll should not be used to claim those unpaid debts.

He said: “Therefore, I can announce today it’s the government’s intention to bring forward legislation to ensure that councils can take no further action to recover ancient poll tax debts.

“After 25 years, it’s about time that the poll tax was finally dead and buried in Scotland.” He added: Mr Salmond added: “It is, of course, quite proper for councils to use current information to assess current Council Tax liability. Unlike the long dead, discredited Poll Tax, the Council Tax is a live levy which forms a key part of local authorities’ finances."

Before the announcement, Vale councillor Jim Bollan had called WDC’s position a betrayal of residents in Dumbarton and the Vale.

He added: “This is a further betrayal by the Labour Party and a further attack by the Labour council on people many of whom are struggling to survive with an ever increasing number having to attend Foodshare to feed their families. There should be an amnesty for all Poll Tax debts, some of which will be 25-years-old.” West of Scotland MSP, Stuart McMillan (SNP), added: “The Poll Tax was a unfair and unpopular policy that was enforced on the people of Scotland by a Thatcher led Tory Government we did not elect.

“It is disgraceful to think 25 years on Labour councils are doing the dirty work of the Conservatives by pursuing debts enforced by them decades ago.

“I therefore fully welcome the announcement by the First Minister today.”