10 December 2009
Planning ahead to meet cuts in national spending
Wealden District Council is proposing a 2.74 per cent increase in Council Tax for Wealden's services, the lowest rise for 14 years.
"The Council recognises the difficult financial times affecting the community and has kept the increase to a minimum. Most of the Council Tax rise is the result of Government policy such as changes to the concessionary fare grant, business rates and the increase in National Insurance contributions. These have significantly increased our costs," explained Councillor Bob Standley, Cabinet member for Finance and Assets.
"We are proposing a 2.74 per cent increase to pay for Wealden's services during the coming year but are planning for even lower Council Tax rises in the following years. The Council continues to implement its Transformation Programme which will further reduce our costs whilst maintaining or improving the services to residents"
Early in the New Year, the Council will also be consulting on a Medium Term Financial Strategy, which will run until 2016-17. This proposes further reductions in Council Tax rises to below 2 per cent. Alongside the Budget consultation the Council will also be asking residents for their views on its Corporate Plan, which sets out the plans for the year ahead including the extension of kerbside recycling to all Wealden households by the end of 2010.
Wealden's Cabinet is proposing that next year the occupants of an average Band D property pay a Council Tax of £174.06 a year - £3.35 a week - for Wealden District Council's services. These include refuse and recycling, housing, planning, public health and environmental protection. The full household Council Tax bill includes additional amounts for East Sussex County Council, Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire & Rescue and local parish and town councils.
Wealden residents receive the lowest government grant in East Sussex to support district council services, just £55.71 per head. This support may be reduced by a further 10 per cent over the next three years to deal with the national budget deficit.
