A CHARITY is encouraging residents in Slough and Windsor and Maidenhead to seek advice on dealing with debts, as it’s revealed that Slough Borough Council is owed around £13.4 million worth of council tax.

Debt advice charity the Money Advice Trust runs the National Debtline, which receives around 160 calls each year from residents in Slough looking for advice on how to resolve their debt problems.

Joanna Elson OBE, chief executive of the Money Advice Trust, said: “Council Tax is vital in funding the essential local services that we all rely on, and local authorities are already under significant financial pressure – so it is in everyone’s interests that arrears are repaid. We would urge all councils to do everything they can to ensure that residents in difficulty are signposted to free advice that will help them get back on track.”

A spokeswoman for Slough Borough Council said that it works with residents struggling to pay council tax and a range of services are available for those worried about debt.

She added: “Council Tax is an integral part of a Local Authorities budget and residents that do not pay their Council Tax in a timely manner, make it difficult for the Council to deliver all the services it offers and could lead to a reduction in services in the long term.

“The Council will continue to collect debts for previous years, just because the financial year has ended does not mean that the debt is no longer owed.”

National Debtline offers free, independent and confidential advice 24 hours a day online at www.nationaldebtline.org and on 0808 808 4000, Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm, Saturday 9.30am to 1pm.