PROPERTIES in Argyll and Bute being placed in the wrong council tax band is “a recurring problem”, a councillor has claimed.

Councillor Graham Hardie (Liberal Democrat, Helensburgh Central) sought clarity on responsibility for the matter, and asked what could be done to help residents facing the prospect of large payments of retrospective council tax.

Argyll and Bute Council’s chief internal auditor said that placing properties in council tax bands was the responsibility of the area’s valuation joint board.

The discussion took place at a meeting of the council’s audit and scrutiny committee on Thursday, September 5.

Councillor Hardie said: “It seems to be a recurring problem I have come across, along with other councillors in different wards. People were wrongly banded for their council tax.

“The band then goes up and they owe the council a huge amount of money. Does the fault lie with the council or with the valuation joint board?”

Paul MacAskill, the council’s chief internal auditor, responded: “The establishment of a council tax band is under the valuation joint board’s remit.

“They inform the council and once the council is informed of any changes, they must be acted on in a reasonable period of time. The council has no control over the banding of the property.”

Councillor Hardie then said: “They have said that the banding was wrongly done three years ago, so they have to pay three years’ worth of money, which is causing a lot of upset for people.

“Are there any arrangements that can be made for that?”

Mr MacAskill said: “What I would suggest is that they contact the revenue section of the council and explain. There may be opportunities for an agreement to be reached where retrospective amounts can be paid over a reasonable period of time.

“This will probably be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, depending on the circumstances.”

The Dunbartonshire and Argyll and Bute Valuation Joint Board has been contacted for comment.