Two win council tax paid for a year (From The Oxford Times)

Two win council tax paid for a year

6:50am Monday 26th March 2012 in Wantage

Two men will have their council tax paid for a year after winning a contest.

David Rickeard of East Hagbourne and Lee Warriner from Abingdon won the prize after signing up to pay for the tax online.

South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Council randomly drew their names this month after nearly 2,000 residents signed up between December and February.

It costs more than £64,000 a year for the councils to print and send out council tax bill and leaflets.

South Oxfordshire prize winner Mr Rickeard said: “Reducing costs through email billing makes great sense in these difficult times.

“I am delighted to be one of the lucky winners, and plan to put the money saved to good use in the community.”

David Dodds, cabinet member for finance at SODC, said: “The promotion has been a huge success with a vast increase in the number signing up.”

And Matthew Barber, cabinet member for finance at the Vale, said: “Although the promotion has now finished we still want as many council taxpayers as possible to get in touch with us to sign up for e-billing.”