Hertsmere Borough Council wrote off £232,000 of unpaid council tax last year, it has emerged.

Figures released this week by the Department for Communities and Local Government show the authority gave up chasing the outstanding tax payments in 2007.A council spokeswoman said: "This figure refers to the amount of debt written off in the 2006/7 financial year, the majority of which relates to previous years. "It is a relatively small amount when compared to what we collect each year."We do everything we can to recover money owed to us and only write it off as a last resort when pursuing what is often ultimately uncollectable debt."We collect nearly 99 per cent of council tax each year which is much higher than most other authorities."