Make defaulters pay their taxes

The council says the 8 million in uncollected tax does not reflect the final figure, which is closer to 3 million as they continue to chase bad debts after the end of the financial year, when the statistics were collected. Presumably, other councils do the same, so that still does not account for the poor showing by the council in this table.

Added to other financial blunders (the Trading Standards collapse and worrying losses in the markets sector) and you end up with a sizeable amount of lost cash. Yet we hear only too often that things cannot be done because there is no money. Perhaps if the council was more careful with our money that wouldn’t be the case so often.

Let her stay - if this is the full story

FROM information available, it seems a terrible injustice is in danger of being visited upon a woman living in Sheffield who is to be deported back to Iran. She fled here in fear of her life because she is gay - an ‘offence’ which has brought the death penalty upon 4,000 men and women in that country since the Ayatollahs brought their religious zeal to power in 1979.

Her case to stay has been rejected and she was due to be sent home today. There she could well join her partner who has been condemned to death.

Unfortunately, those in authority decline to comment, leaving only one side of the story. If there is more to the story, tell us. If not, let her stay.

Happy Dodgers

IN this era of IT, air-conditioning and staff rest areas, there’s one thing the British worker yearns for...a good old fashioned tea lady! Apparently the sound of a creaky trolley rattling towards our desk is guaranteed to lift spirits. And add a Jammy Dodger, a slice of Battenburg and a bit of harmless banter and happiness is complete!