Cabinet councillors at Eastbourne Borough Council will consider approving an increase of just over nine (9) pence in the weekly cost of council tax.
If approved at Full Council (February 19) a Band D bill would increase by £4.94 a year.
A council tax bill is divided between East Sussex County Council (73%), Eastbourne Borough Council (12.5%), Sussex Police (9.7%) and East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service (4.8%).
East Sussex County Council plan to put the council tax up by 3.99%, meaning their share of a Band D bill rises by £57.25 to £1,490.03.
Despite the government putting a stop to all grant funding to the council, the Eastbourne Borough Council increase is recommended to be only 2%.
Councillor David Tutt, Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, said:
“The profound cuts in our funding by the government, along with Brexit uncertainties, the general economic downturn and rising costs of emergency accommodation, are putting enormous pressure on public finances.
“Yet, in the face of these acute challenges, the proposals in our budget would see an increase to a Band D bill of just over 9p per week. That is welcome news for our residents.”
Councillor Stephen Holt, Cabinet Member for Financial Services, said:
“Housing is a major challenge for us as a local authority and one of the ways we will be addressing this is to include a £25 million council investment in local homes over the next three years, within the draft budget.
“Despite the challenges faced by local authorities, our council adapts to the needs of residents, protecting services we value the most.”
Published on 28 January 2020
