Arun backs council tax freeze for third year

For the third year running Arun’s tax bills, dropping through letter boxes next month, will be pegged at just over £3 a week for a typical, band D property, before adding county council charges – the lion’s share – together with demands from the police and town and parish councils.

During last Wednesday’s (February 20) full council budget debate, Arun council leader Gill Brown said her authority would not be passing on the £122,000 cost of changes made by the Government to the welfare benefit system, unlike some other councils, which had reduced council tax benefit payments by 10 per cent.

“We know that some of our households across the district are having a difficult time and their budgets are stretched. We must send out an unmistakable message that this council recognises that and, by confirming that there will be no council tax increase for the coming year, shows our commitment to do all we can to help.”

While savings had had to be made in the council’s revenue budget, said Mrs Brown, she felt they had been made in such a way that they minimised any effect on those most in need in the district.

But there was more pain to come, she admitted. “Despite the massive reductions in Government grant this council has seen over the last few years and the prospect of more to come this year and next, our financial strategy and this budget still manage to put us in a sound position.”

The budget, said Mrs Brown,included £500,000 to “pump prime” regenerations schemes and further time and money was being invested in the enhancements Arun was funding for Littlehampton’s East Bank flood defences.

Liberal Democrat leader Francis Oppler welcomed the freeze, but warned that, as a consequence of taking the Government grant which had enabled the standstill, Arun would have less money to spend in future years.

“I also fear the potential hardship some residents will face, after becoming accustomed to no council tax rise,” he added.

Labour leader Roger Nash said the budget “does nothing to stimulate Arun’s lacklustre economy”.