Barnet Council has hit back at suggestions that it is inefficient in its collection of council tax.
Last month, the public services union GMB said in the past financial year nearly £7 million went uncollected by Barnet Council - the third highest amount in London, after Croydon and Hackney.
Councillor Mike Freer, the leader of the council, said: "Efficiency in council tax collection can't be measured simply by looking at the amount uncollected. It must be viewed in the context of the total amount collectable. Barnet has to collect more than any other London borough. In 2005-06 we had to collect £148m, £15m more than Croydon, which collects the second largest amount.
"Our council tax collection rate for 2005-06 was 95.3 per cent, higher than the London average of 94.9 per cent and an increase on our 2004-05 collection rate of 95.1 per cent."
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