TEIGNBRIDGE Council is not the only authority caught up in a council tax non-payment wrangle involving one of its members.

A similar scenario is unfolding at Leeds City Council, where the Information Commissioner has ordered the authority to release the names of members who have been sent a court summons over unpaid tax.

But defiant city council leaders are set to challenge the commissioner’s decision, having paid £1,200 in external legal advice.

Teignbridge is still refusing to reveal the identity of the Tory member who appeared in court for non-payment of £1,260 – despite a judge ruling that non-payers shouldn’t have their identity protected.

A Freedom of Information request to establish the individual drew a blank, with the council claiming it was not in the public interest to name the member.

A spokesman for the council said this week: ‘We do not know the specifics of the cases dealt with by Leeds City Council, other than the Information Commissioner did not order disclosure of all the information requested and agreed that some information should remain confidential.

‘Each request for information has to be judged on individual circumstances – it is a finely balanced decision.

‘Teignbridge’s current position remains the same for the reasons previously provided under the Freedom of Information request of July 2016.’

Unlike Leeds City Council, Teignbridge has announced it hasn’t forked out any money on external fees.

Measures have been dealt with through the council’s usual legal and monitoring process.