EAST Hampshire District Council (EHDC) is calling on residents to pay their outstanding council tax instalments for 2015/16 by the end of March.

The tax bills for the year 2016/2017 are now being sent out.

In 2014/2015, EHDC collected 98.7 per cent of council tax from residents across the district, a figure the authority is proud of and which, according to recovery manager Louise Bicknell, is “good news for everyone”.

“If everyone pays, then everyone pays less,” she said.

Now the call has gone out to those people who have yet to pay their final outstanding council tax instalments to do so by March 31.

“If you can finish off your payments by the end of March that will also prevent you paying two lots of council tax from April onwards,” said Ms Bicknell.

Anyone with problems paying should call 01730 234400.

n In February, EHDC said it will be cutting its share of the 2016/17 council tax by two per cent. The authority collects tax from residents in East Hampshire on behalf of Hampshire County Council, the Fire and Rescue Service, the police, and parish and town councils.