Household charge body ‘doing excellent job’

The chief executive of the body collecting the household charge has insisted it is doing an “excellent job” — despite sending out warning letters demanding payment to thousands of people who have already paid.

Extraordinarily, those affected may be liable to fines if they ignore the letters, despite the fact they have already paid the charge.

Paul McSweeney of the Local Government Management Agency defended his organisation’s work yesterday, but admitted: