Penalty for a pound

A CLASSIC case of petty officialdom run riot, or a sign of the times? Jacki Coombe couldn't believe her eyes when she received a letter from the Aberdeen council demanding the payment of £1 in unpaid council tax — from 13 years ago.

She threw the letter in the bin, little knowing the repercussions of her foolhardiness. She then received a final notice letter threatening legal action. What mercy would be shown in the county court as the full might of the council's legal team swung into action? Would a hefty fine be imposed, and would prison await if she did not pay it?

The absurdity of the case is that the costs of writing demands for payment for such a trifling sum from 13 years ago and following this up with a final notice demand would have more than consumed the 1 being chased. And justice would surely demand some limit on the number of years a council can go back to initiate demands for unpaid council tax. Carry this to its logical conclusion and the council would be sending final notices to every cemetery in the area. Fortunately the council has seen sense and dropped the case. But if this is a symptom of how local government is going to turn on its citizens, Heaven help us all.