COUNCILLORS across Worcestershire have been pretty good about paying their council tax on time.

But still a few of them needed a prod according to an investigation by Private Eye magazine.

The magazine edited by Have I Got News For You’s Ian Hislop asked every council in the country if they had had to write to remind councillors about late payments, and even if they had taken any to court for council tax due during 2016/17.

The results were published online on an interactive map available at http://www.private-eye.co.uk/councillors

No councillors from this county were that behind in paying their bills – Wychavon District Council had to remind one councillor, as did Malvern Hills District Council.

Worcester City Councillor had to remind two. But like the councillors at Wychavon and Malvern Hill, they paid up quickly enough that no further action was needed.

Initially, in error, Private Eye said the city authority ‘had refused to answer’ its Freedom of Information request.

But a spokesman for the city said a response had in fact been sent on December 21 - the map was updated after the council contacted Private Eye.

While those authorities can be pretty pleased with their councillors' diligence, those in the north of Worcestershire did even better – while Wyre Forest District council had to write to one councillor, who promptly paid – Redditch and Bromsgrove councillors all paid up on time, needing no reminders at all.

Details of which councillors needed reminders are not available by law.

The punishments for non-payment of council tax are the same for councillors as for the rest of us, with one twist. Councillors who have not paid are forbidden by law from voting on the council’s budget - and setting the council tax - if they have missed payments for two consecutive months and have not since paid.

They are expected to stay away from budget setting meetings or, if they attend, have to stand up in the council meeting and say why they cannot vote.

Worcestershire seemed to do better than neighbouring council areas. In Stratford On Avon one councillor was summonsed for not paying £1145, though he paid before having to go to court.

In Gloucestershire there were three councillors who were summonsed to court, one in the Forest of Dean, for non-payment of £780.89 and two in Tewkesbury, one for £1502.24, who paid before court, and another who owed £1619.28, who would have been barred from voting at a council meeting if he’d attended.