TWO Inverclyde councillors have fallen into arrears with council tax over the past four years, the Telegraph can reveal.

It has also emerged that more than a hundred council employees owe a total of over £100,000 in council tax.

The figures were released by the local authority under Freedom of Information laws.

Asked how many councillors have had official reminders issued to them over the non-payment of council tax during the period 2010/11 to 2013/14, the answer was that two had received them.

But the council said it was ‘unable’ to name the councillors, or the political party they represent.

The council was also asked how many of its employees and councillors were the subject of council legal action over their non-payment of the tax.

An official replied: “The information requested with regards to council tax arrears owed by employees of the council during the financial years 2013/2014, 2012/2013, 2011/2012 and 2010/2011 is not held.

“I am, however, able to provide information regarding the current council tax arrears position of current employees of the council.

“There are currently 245 employees with arrears. An employee may have multiple arrears.” The council was also requested to specify how many had their wages reduced at source to go towards the non-payment but said this information was ‘not held’.

When asked: “How many were subject to internal (council) sanctions, and how many faced non-financial penalties and what were they?”, the council responded: “None at present.” The statistics show a total of £368,885 is owed by employees, dating back to 1993.

At the moment, 135 current employees owe £100,120 in total for 2014.

Last year the number of employees in arrears stood at 126, when the amount owed was £38,980, a figure that was originally larger but has since reduced because staff have paid off some of the money they owe from that year.

A council spokesman said: “We take the non-payment of council tax extremely seriously and continue to take robust action against anyone who owes money to the council.

“In addition to the statutory recovery notices we issue to all people owing council tax, we also take specific action against employees that can include written warnings and arrestment of earnings if necessary.

“Council tax is an essential source of funding for vital services to our communities and it is right and proper that everyone who is eligible to pay does so.

“It is worth pointing out that, including council employees, the collection rate for council tax for Inverclyde is at its highest level ever in the past year.”