The Cabinet Committee is recommending a 3.9% increase in council tax for County Council services for 2008/09.
The plan is in line with the Council’s promise to lower increases over a four year period. In 2006/07, the increase was 4.7% which then fell to 4.3% in 2007/08. The Council now wants a 3.9% increase for 2008/09, followed by a 3.5% increase in 2009/10. The recommendation will go to the full County Council meeting on Tuesday 12 February for final approval.
Deputy Leader Tony Reid said: “We made a strong commitment to local residents to continue to reduce council tax rises and so I am very pleased that Cabinet has made this recommendation.
“Central Government has increased our grant by 3% for 2008/09 which is better than we expected. However, we have a history of poor financial settlements compared to some authorities and we still do not receive the average increase for UK counties of over 5%. We believe that the Government still does not truly recognise our unique position in terms of the spiralling costs of looking after our growing elderly population.
“We know that any rise in council tax is difficult for some of our residents. However, bearing in mind the tough financial position that we face, I believe we have produced a sound budget that enhances key services and keeps the council tax increase down but it does mean that we will have to deliver a further £6.4m of savings next year.”
The Cabinet Committee has recommended a budget for 2008/09 that will see an average Band D council tax payer having their bill for County Council services increased by just over 11p per day. If the full County Council agrees to the proposal on 12 February, the total bill for County Council services for a Band D council tax payer will be £1,089 for 2008/09 compared to £1,047 in 2007/08.
Cabinet has proposed increasing overall spending by 3.4% or £10.4m. Part of this proposed package includes use of additional flexibility to further increase spending on key services including:
- £1m on services for older people
- £660,000 on child protection
- £400,000 on the Hastings schools federation
- £200,000 on gritting roads
- £150,000 for the maintenance of pavements in urban areas
- £175,000 to help the councils work on the climate change agenda
- £100,000 for Age Concern
- £50,000 to extend the opening hours at the Council’s archives and records office.
The Council’s capital programme was also agreed by Cabinet and will now go to the full Council for approval. The proposed £59m building programme for 2008/09 includes:
- over £28m for Children’s Services
- over £18m for Transport & Environment
- £4.2m for Adult Social Care
- £2.7m for Chief Executives which includes library developments.
Over the next five years, the County Council plans to spend almost £400m on capital building projects.
Reference:
1797
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