WEST Somerset Council has been forced to pursue one of its elected members and his wife for Council Tax arrears running into hundreds of pounds.

But Shelley Hercock, whose husband Norman is a Tory councillor representing the Alcombe West ward, has criticised the authority for "sending in the bailiffs" when she was just four days late with a payment.

The couple have three children, including a 13-year-old daughter who has cystic fibrosis - a life threatening condition affecting the lungs and digestive system.

Mrs Hercock told the Free Press that around £1,200 in Council Tax was owed on the family's Hayfield Road home in Alcombe last December.

But after clearing almost half the debt she had made an arrangement to make monthly payments of £160.

"I made a payment in January but when the February one was due my daughter was actually in hospital suffering from a chest infection," said Mrs Hercock.

"She was really very unwell and Council Tax was the last thing on my mind."

Mrs Hercock said she made a payment as soon as her daughter was home - four days after the due date.

But last Friday a bailiff turned up on her doorstep demanding she paid the debt in full.

"He wanted me to pay £800, including an additional £200 bailiffs' charge," she said.

"When I told him I didn't have the money, he said he would take my car, which I need for taking my daughter to hospital."

Mrs Hercock, whose husband is currently working in Guernsey, finally persuaded the bailiff to accept a £400 payment, which she had to borrow from her family.

She has also been told that she must pay clear the outstanding debt in full by paying the remaining £400 today (Friday).

Mrs Hercock said the experience was upsetting and claimed a four-day delay in making a payment should not have resulted in a visit from a bailiff.

She said it was the second time a bailiff had called - the previous visit was late last year.

"All it does is increase the amount of money we owe and makes it more difficult because we have to pay a £200 bailiff charge each time."

Mrs Hercock said she was particularly angry because in the same week the council had publicised the case of a Minehead man who had Council Tax debts stretching back six years and running into thousands of pounds.

Martin Barnfield was given a 90-day prison sentence by Taunton and West Somerset magistrates a fortnight ago after owing just over £6,393.

"I am trying to pay off these arrears and the only reason I was late in making a payment was because my daughter was in hospital," said Mrs Hercock.

"It's not as though we've owed this money for years and years. I just think it's very unfair - it's not the way you expect to be treated."

A council spokesman said the authority very much sympathised with the Hercocks' circumstances but they had not informed anyone of the situation.

"Anyone who does not pay their Council Tax receives a court summons with several weeks' grace to contact the council to make arrangements to pay prior to cases being heard in a magistrates' court," she said.

"The courts issue liability orders, which means debtors have to make arrangements to pay bailiffs if they have not already made arrangements to pay the council.

"Mr and Mrs Hercock, who are jointly responsible for the Council Tax on their property, made their own arrangements to pay the bailiff.

"The Hercocks were treated in exactly the same way as any other person who fails to pay the bailiff on the date agreed.

"Also, prior to a bailiff visit for non-payment, people have several extra days' grace to pay or to make contact to explain extenuating circumstances so that alternative arrangements can be made and the bailiff visit cancelled if necessary.

"Having entered into an agreement with a third party - the bailiffs - the Hercocks defaulted on that agreement, which has incurred extra costs that go to the third party and which are beyond our control."

The spokesman said the case involving Mr Barnfield was entirely different.

He had also been subject to a liability order and there had been two bailiff actions and numerous other attempts to collect the debt over a substantial period of time.

"It took a long time to bring him to account because he changed addresses, worked away for periods of time and the council exhausts all possible recovery options before asking for a committal hearing at court," said the spokesman.

Court hearings were a last resort as they further increased costs for Council Taxpayers.

"If anyone is struggling to pay we urge them to contact us so that we can come to an arrangement or help them to get benefit if they qualify," said the spokesman.

"If people cannot make any Council Tax payment date arranged with us or the bailiffs, the sooner they tell us or the bailiffs, the sooner we can try to help."