A WATCHDOG will investigate an authority’s refusal to reveal the number of councillors who have failed to pay their council tax on time.

Burnley Council refused to provide any details to the Lancashire Telegraph, which had submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request on the issue to seven borough councils.

Blackburn with Darwen, Pendle, Chorley councils all provided extensive information to the request, short of identifying the members, while Hyndburn Council provided minimal details.

It has also emerged that Burnley Council had previously provided answers on the same issue to another newspaper, the Bolton News, which revelaed that one councillor had to be sent a court summons before paying a bill of £115 in 2013/14.

The Information Commissioner’s Office has agreed to consider a complaint by the Lancashire Telegraph into the council’s handling of its request.

The original responses revealed that on 55 occasions across Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Pendle and Chorley since 2009, councillors have failed to pay their council tax on time.

A court summons was required in 10 of the cases, while four had to be passed to bailiffs before the arrears were paid.

Meanwhile, Blackburn with Darwen Council has rejected an appeal to name the councillors who received a court summons, restating its position that this would breach the Data Protection Act.

The Lancashire Telegraph then asked the council to write to the councillors concerned, to request they waive their rights under the act, but this request has also been refused.

Appeals are still being considered by Hyndburn, Pendle and Chorley councils. Ribble Valley Borough Council, which did not provide a direct answer to the FOI request, is also considering an appeal, while Rossendale Council claimed it did not hold the information.

Mike Waite, community engagement officer at Burnley Council, said the questions raised by the Bolton News did not raise concern about personal information, and this explained the different approach that was taken with the two requests.

But the Lancashire Telegraph pointed out that a follow up email was sent and acknowledged by the council, stating that five out of six questions could be answered without releasing the names of the councillors. Mr Waite did not respond.