Tower Hamlets’ ex-mayor received summons for not paying council tax

 
p30 Ahmed Omer edition 31.5
Pippa Crerar31 May 2013
WEST END FINAL

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A Formner mayor of Tower Hamlets received a court summons for failing to pay council tax, it emerged today.

Labour party sources confirmed that Ahmed Omer, mayor of the east London borough in 2009/10, was the individual referred to in Freedom of Information documents about non-payment.

Councillor Omer claimed the matter had now been resolved, and the council’s Labour group stood by him. He suggested “personal difficulties” were behind his failure to pay up last year.

Mr Omer, who represents Bow East ward, told the East London Advertiser: “I’m not denying that but the matter has been reviewed fully and I have paid all my council tax. The whole thing is dealt with and is finished.”

A spokesman for the Labour group said: “The Labour Party believes it is unacceptable for councillors not to meet their obligations, particularly paying their council tax.

‘Where a councillor has underlying personal difficulties, we do however have a duty to see whether there is a resolution which allows them to resolve these and return to the position where they meet the standards rightly expected of them by the public.”

Councillors who fail to make council tax payments are banned from voting on town hall budgets under local government legislation.

However, it seems Mr Omer was able to have his say on the Tower Hamlets budget as the summons against him did not coincide with the March vote.

Mr Omer was unavailable for further comment.

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