Wealden’s Cabinet is proposing to freeze the council tax that pays for its services at just £3.35 a week for the fifth successive year
“Back in 2008 a we started a far-reaching process of transformation to reduce the annual cost of running the Council by £3 million without affecting front line services,” said Councillor Bob Standley, Leader of Wealden District Council.
“These included consolidating our offices at one location and setting up a Joint Waste Contract with Eastbourne, Hastings and Rother Councils to manage refuse and recycling.
We have also set up a number of other shared services with neighbouring authorities to reduce costs whilst maintaining a high level of service.
“This has placed the Council in a strong position to meet the continued pressure on public spending and, with the additional 1% grant from the Government, we are once again able to propose a council tax freeze.
“During the past four years, while the Council has been able to avoid any increase in our share of Council Tax, we have seen residents’ satisfaction with the way this Council runs its services rise to 75%, compared from just over 50% in 2008.
“Whilst there is still more to do as councils move to becoming locally-funded and less reliant on Central Government, the actions we have taken in recent years mean we are prepared for the changes and will maintain the high standard of services which residents enjoy.”
While carrying out its Transformation Programme, the Council has been able to undertake a £7 million major refurbishment programme at the District’s Freedom Leisure Centres in Crowborough, Uckfield, Heathfield and Hailsham, completed an ambitious programme to build 64 new council houses – its first for over 30 years – and exceeded targets for the number for affordable homes built in Wealden.
The Council will be consulting on its budget proposals, and this will include local businesses and parish and town councils. A final decision on the amount of council tax collected for Wealden’s services – which accounts for only 10 per cent of residents’ total council tax bill – will be made by Full Council on 25 February. The proposal will set the Wealden share of the council tax for an average Band D property at £174.06 a year, the equivalent of £3.35 a week.
The District Council provides a wide range of services including housing, planning, refuse and recycling, economic development, council tax and housing benefit, public health, licencing and building control. The total council tax bill for Wealden households includes payments to East Sussex County Council, Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire & Rescue and local parish and town councils, as well as Wealden District Council.
