DUMBARTON and the Vale’s taxpayers will miss out on more than a quarter of a million pounds to fund vital local services after councillors agreed to write off “irrecoverable” debts.
West Dunbartonshire Council’s corporate services committee agreed last week to write off £173,915 in unpaid business rates dating back to 2013, and £83,000 in miscellaneous other debts going back to 2017.
The non-domestic rates sum includes more than £78,000 due from businesses which have been dissolved and are no longer trading, and £63,000 from firms which went into administration.
The miscellaneous debts include more than £15,000 due by residents who died with no estate to pay the money, while £42,000 was deemed “untraceable”.
Councillor Iain McLaren, vice-chair of corporate services, said: “Some of these debts go back more than 20 years. If any new information comes to light, the council will actively pursue this debt.”
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