FINES for people who fail to pay their council tax on time have been reduced by £10 after a reverend's court victory.

Reverend Paul Nicolson, who took Haringey Council to court over “extortionate” court costs, says the figure has dropped from £125 to £115.

This comes after court documents show a summons sent out by Haringey Council in August was priced at £115.

But the authority seems to have done this without waiting for the results of an independent audit which is being carried out to determine how much a summons should in fact be.

Reverend Nicolson, a spokesperson for Taxpayers Against Poverty (TAP) said: “It seems that there are discussions going on in private which should be taking place in public.

“To many people a £10 overcharge might not seem very much. However it is on top of the council tax arrears of the poorest residents.

“The £10 costs over-charge, with the threat of the bailiffs and eviction, can be a tipping point.”

The costs now come to £102, with an added £115 for a ‘liability order’.

Reverend Nicolson refused to pay council tax in protest of Haringey Council raising tax on benefit claimants.

When taken to court by the council in 2013, he asked them how they arrived at £125 costs.

The council were never able to give a full response, and in May 2015 the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Reverend Nicolson.

Haringey Council have been contacted for comment.