City leaders consider running council tax holiday contest

A YEAR'S free council tax is set to be offered to five residents in a new competition designed to encourage paying by direct debit.

Every council tax payer who has no arrears would be entered into the prize draw.

Five winners would then be picked to receive a year-long holiday from council tax payments.

A final dates schedule is still to be agreed for the competition, which still has to get approval from councillors at a finance committee meeting next week.

Based on current rates, the competition would cost the council up to 15,625 a year.

Councillor Phil Wheeler, the city's finance leader, said: "I'd encourage everyone to switch if they can, and get the chance to win the prize draw."