GOVERNMENT figures have claimed more than £3.4 million of council tax in York has not been collected in the last two years.

The statistics showed that of the £81.69 million York residents should have paid in 2010/11, £79.97 million was recouped. In 2011/12, when the collectable total was £82 million, £80.3 million was paid.

This gave City of York Council a Government collection rate of almost 98 per cent, although the authority said it was nearer 99 per cent as some tax is not collected until the following financial year.

Ian Floyd, its director of customer and business support services, said York’s performance outstripped the national average and the authority issued reminders and court summons where necessary.

He said: “Where payments fall behind, we have a dedicated recovery team operating an open-door policy, supporting customers with advice and guidance to help them clear their arrears.”

The council said the economic downturn had affected some residents’ ability to pay, while others dealt with “non-priority debts” such as catalogue payments first or were “persistent non-payers”, sometimes “on principle”.

The Government figures said Selby District Council and Ryedale District Council did not receive £708,000 and £511,000 of the tax total for their respective areas in 2011/12, but their collection rates topped 98 per cent.