TWO councillors in the Ribble Valley were taken to court for failing to pay their council tax, the Lancashire Telegraph can reveal.

Data obtained thro-ugh Freedom of Information (FOI) laws showed seven members of Ribble Valley Borough Council (RVBC) failed to pay their council tax on time since 2009, including two cases which ended up in court.

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One councillor paid up immediately after their court hearing, while the other made arrangements to pay in instalments.

Earlier this month the LT revealed there were 55 occasions in the last five years where councillors acr-oss Blackburn with Darwen, Hyndburn, Pendle and Chorley failed to pay their council tax on time.

RBVC did not give direct answers to the initial FOI request, but has provided more information following a review. All the councils have refused to name the late payers, saying this would breach the Data Protection Act.

Steve Rush, chair-man of Clitheroe Residents Action Gro-up said the counc-illors should be named, and added: “I’m gobsmacked about this, because councillors should lead by example.”