ENFIELD failed to collect over £5million in council tax in 2007/08 according to newly-released figures.

The statistics, from public services union the GMB, show that Enfield Council failed to collect £5,257,000 in the last financial year.

That ranks Enfield 19th out of the 354 local authorities in England covered by the survey, and ninth in London.

The news may provoke outrage from some as it comes during a period of cutbacks by the council aiming to save £12 million pounds this year through staff "efficiencies" and closing offices.

However, the council argues that while the £5,257,000 figure quoted refers to council tax collected in 2007/08, it continues to collect these debts for "many years afterwards."

The total amount of cash the council raises per year is the sixth highest in London and in the top ten per cent nationally, though the amount each resident is charged is one of the lowest rates in outer London.

The council argues that this means, in cash terms, arrears will always be higher than the majority of other boroughs.

Enfield is ranked behind neighbouring boroughs Barnet (sixth nationally, £6,984,000) and Haringey (14th, £5,564,000).

The list is topped by Birmingham, with a deficit of £16,258,000, ahead of Manchester on £12,478,000, while the Isles of Scilly, with a population of 2,100, are bottom with a shortfall of £15,000.

Brian Strutton, the GMB's national secretary for public services, said: “While showing some overall improvement, the amount of council tax uncollected remains stubbornly high.

"Well over £700 millions remain permanently owed to local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland.

"This money is urgently needed by councils to provide necessary services particularly to the elderly and vulnerable.”

The data was published by the GMB yesterday at the TUC conference in Brighton.

Council tax collection nationally is rising. The national average in-year collection rate for council tax in England is 97.1 per cent in 2007-08, an increase of 0.2 percent on 2006-07.

In Enfield, the figure rose to 95.50 per cent, an increase of 0.1 per cent, in the same period.