A ROW has broken out after a councillor was threatened with bailiff action for an unpaid council tax bill he says should never have been issued.

Paul McGurty, a Conservative councillor for Corporation Park ward, Blackburn, sold his house in French Road, Blackburn, on March 22 this year, before the start of the new tax year in April.

But the authority on which he serves, Blackburn with Darwen Council, has chased him since June for £444.80 for the tax year 2002/3.

He said he received four letters, culminating in one last week from Manchester-based bailiffs saying they had authority from Blackburn magistrates to come to his home and seize possessions to recover the debt, which had risen to £479.80 after legal costs.

The wrangle has now been resolved after the council said Coun McGurty finally provided the information they needed but he accused the council of heavy-handedness.

He said: "After four separate telephone calls to advise the council tax office that I no longer owned the property, they continued legal action against me for the recovery of council tax for 2002/3, despite me completing the sale of my old property on March 22 this year.

"I am concerned with the way they deal with issues such as this. Vulnerable and elderly people may pay these bills just to stop bailiffs turning up at their door even, if they don't owe the money.

"For someone who doesn't know any better this can be quite frightening."

But the council's finance director Alan Cotton said the situation arose because Coun McGurty failed to provide documents showing the sale had been processed.

He said: "On Monday, Mr McGurty contacted the council tax section of the council and provided the relevant information, which has allowed the council to recall the summons and withdraw the documentation from the bailiffs.

"In normal circumstances when a property is sold it is usual for the vendor to confirm this information in writing. The situation has now been satisfactorily resolved," he said.

But Coun McGurty said he was never asked to provide confirmation in writing and each time he phoned the council tax office he was assured the matter would be taken care of.