Wealden District Council has approved a £5 a year increase for its share of the 2017/18 council tax bill.—Wealden District Council, 28 February 2017
“This is a budget which maintains services and is sustainable within the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy,” said Council Leader Bob Standley. The Council’s MTFS identifies savings and income generation of £650,000 to be achieved by 2020/1.
The £5 a year is for a Band D property with a proportional increases for other council tax bandings. The overall council tax bill also includes contributions for services provided by East Sussex County Council, Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire and Rescue and your parish or town council.
“Last year I said our finances were on a firm financial standing and I am pleased to say that this year it is the same case,” said Councillor Standley. “But in 2015/16 the Revenue Support Grant we received from the Government was £2.3 million. This year it reduces to £288,000 and after that, zero.”
“The budget predicts a deficit of £700,000 this year and smaller deficits in the following two years. This will be covered by transfers from the Council reserves of a total of £950,000.”
Cllr Standley said he was confident income generated through the Council’s new housing company and the new crematorium would help the MTFS close the shortfall in the future.
“The Government needs to address the issue of business rates and the issue of adult social care in general,” he said. “Whilst Wealden does not fund adult social care, its funding impacts across all councils and the NHS.”
The council tax rise and the Medium Term Financial Strategy was approved by the 22 February meeting of Full Council.
The annual increase for Wealden council tax property bands is as follows:
Band A £3.33, Band B £3.89,
Band C £4.44, Band D £5.00,
Band E £6.11, Band F £7.22,
Band G £8.33 Band H £10.00.
Council tax is collect in Wealden for a number of service providers. Here are the contributions from a Band D property for 2017/18:
East Sussex County Council £1,314.36
(including social care precept £61.55)
Wealden District Council £182.44
Sussex Police £153.91
East Sussex Fire & Rescue £88.40
Average Parish/Town Council £94.48
Wealden residents who are concerned about their finances are encouraged to contact the East Sussex Benefit Helpline by phone on 0333 3440681 or by emailing benefitseastsussex@harcuk.com for independent advice. This service is provided on behalf of East Sussex County Council in partnership with Wealden District Council.
If you are having difficulties paying your council tax and want to know if you might qualify for our Council Tax Reduction Scheme, please contact Wealden’s Benefits service: email benefits@wealden.gov.uk or telephone 01323 443500. A helpful page of Frequently Asked Questions about the Council Tax Reduction Scheme can be found on the Wealden web site: search under Council Tax Reduction.
The webcast of the Full Council meeting can be seen here http://wealden.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/271362
