Despite cutting thousands from budgets for front-line services, Lewisham's Labour Council is still failing to tackle 40 years of administrative incompetence and overspending.
In 2011/12 Lewisham collected on 93.9% of Council Tax due. This compares with an average national collection rate of 97.3%. Only two of London's 33 boroughs have worse collection rates than Lewisham.
2010 Conservative Mayoral Candidate, Simon Nundy, said, "If Lewisham Council collected Council Tax as efficiently as nearby Wandsworth Council then we would have nearly £4 million a year available to save front-line services such as libraries, community centres and early learning centres.
"Aas usual, when faced with a choice of cutting services or giving value for money, Lewisham's Labour Council take the easy option and duck out of challenging but necessary reforms."