MORE than £3.5 million of council tax and business rates cash went uncollected in York last year, according to a union’s analysis.

The GMB says £2.038 million in council tax was not paid in the city during 2009/10, with a further £1.469 million in non-domestic rates also failing to be collected.

It has now called for changes to the collection system to be introduced to make non-payment “virtually impossible”, saying residents, landlords and businesses cannot be allowed to avoid paying when national finances are being stretched.

The GMB’s study also put the figure of uncollected council tax and business rates at £1.678 million in Selby, £360,000 in Ryedale, £5.574 million in East Yorkshire, £961,000 in Hambleton, £2.331 million in Scarborough and £2.495 million in Harrogate during 2009/10.

Tim Roache, the union’s regional secretary for Yorkshire and Humberside, said: “Uncollected council taxes in 21 councils across Yorkshire amounted to more than £111 million in the last financial year.

“This level cannot be accepted at a time when there are deficits in the public finances which are giving rise to cuts in public services and job losses at a time of high unemployment.”