PEOPLE who do not pay their council tax or business rates are facing an 11 per cent increase in summons costs to appear before magistrates.

Bury Council's Executive, which met on Wednesday (9), accepted recommendations to increase the costs from £54 to £60 for council tax and £79 to £87 for business rates.

It is the first time the fee has been increased in more than three years and is expected to bring in an extra £35,000, which will be put towards the council's budget deficit.

The summons costs will be used to pay for preparing and issuing the summons and the cost for a Liability or Committal Order if the charge is not paid at the summons stage.