A NEW computer system and the failure of UEF have been cited as reasons why Bromsgrove has been named by the Government as one of 20 local authorities to show a decrease in the collection of council tax and non-domestic rates.

Figures show that as a per cent of the net collectable debit for council tax collection, Bromsgrove has slipped from a high 98.2 in 2000/2001 to 94.6 and for business rate from 97.4 to 94.1 for the same period.

Nationally English councils collected an extra £40m which the Government attributes to an initiative launched last year in association with the Local Government Association to help poorly performing councils improve collection rates.

But confirmation that Bromsgrove District Council's performance had slipped came as no surprise to its head of finance, Andrew Fisher.

He said: "The district council is fully aware that this performance indicator was likely to be lower this year than in previous years because a strategic decision had been taken to introduce a new computer system to manage the council tax billing.

"The installation of the system involved a complete close down for a limited period and the council appreciated this would almost certainly have an impact on the collection of rates.

"In short the dip in performance was fully expected and planned for and very quickly collection rates will return to their previous high level."

He went on to say the council was wrongly accused of not doing enough to save UEF, the former Garringtons plant, which closed at Easter.

"The council was actually very supportive of the company and this is demonstrated by the fact that two per cent of the reduction in collection rate for business rate is attributable to the failure of UEF to pay what was due."