COLLECTION rates for council tax and non-domestic rates in the Hambleton district have risen for the fourth year running.

Last year, the council collected 98.6 per cent of all council tax due and 99.4 per cent of all business rates. That was a rise of 0.1 and 0.3 per cent respectively for tax collected in the 12 months to March 31.

The results pushed up the authority's position in the national league table, and it is now one of the top 25 per cent of authorities in the country for collection rates.

The cabinet member for finance, Councillor Brian Phillips, said: "Prompt payment by our residents, both over the counter and by signing up for Direct Debit, have enabled us to improve our position in the national league table.

"Our residents benefit from paying promptly, as not only does it allow us to maintain our services, but we can improve them too.

"We are proud of our collection rates and committed to improve them further."

Nationally, local authorities in England collected £18.9bn in council taxes by March this year relating to taxes due in 2006-7.