A SECOND-home owner has been forced to pay over £11,000 in outstanding Council Tax just weeks after being taken to court for carrying out unauthorised work to her listed holiday home.
In an unconnected case in August, Mrs Falk was taken to court by Exmoor National Park Authority and admitted failing to comply with the requirements of a Listed Building Enforcement Notice.
She was ordered to pay more than £4,500 in fines and costs for damaging the fabric of the cottage and failing to rectify the work.
In the most recent case, Taunton Deane and West Somerset Magistrates' Court issued a warrant without bail for Mrs Falk's arrest after she failed to appear in court at the beginning of September.
But rather than be arrested and face court, Mrs Falk paid the outstanding Council Tax debt in full, together with court costs.
Steve Perkins, the council's recovery manager, said the authority had been left with no choice but to take Mrs Falk to court after exhausting all other options to get payment.
"While most people pay on time, this shows that the council will take court action against people who withhold payments," he said.
"It serves as a warning to others considering non-payment that such actions will not be tolerated."
Cllr Kate Kravis, lead member for finance, said the council was committed to ensuring Council Tax debts were paid.
"It is simply not fair that other taxpayers effectively end up paying for non-payers' services," she said.
"We take court action when all other means of recovering unpaid debts have been exhausted.
"However, we are here to help those facing genuine hardship and encourage anyone who is struggling to pay their Council Tax bills to talk to us because we may be able to help them with a variety of payment options."