Nine Cardiff councillors ended up in council tax arrears with their own council last financial year

An ITV News investigation has revealed that nine Cardiff councillors were in council tax arrears during the last financial year.

It's by far the worst case in Wales of councillors owing money to their own local authority.

Protesters trying to save local services are furious.

Watch our report below:

A councillor voting in a budget debate who's in arrears of more than two months is actually committing a criminal offence. There is no suggestion this has taken place here, as officials are confident no councillor was in this position in February when this vote took place.

But it does show the seriousness of the councillors not paying their council tax for a prolonged period of time.

There is also a wider reputational issue with some councillors insisting they are hard working and have never been in arrears.

We don't know the identity of the councillors involved, due to data protection, with the council unable to release the exact details.

Cardiff Council has made significant cuts in recent years and faces a £48 million shortfall in the year ahead.

Persuading the public to accept changes to services is always difficult and requires a degree of goodwill from residents.

That's who headlines about councillors late paying their council tax seems pretty unhelpful.