Council face bleak midwinter

Words like "appalling" and dire" were bandied about the Council Chamber.

Councillors and officers believe Rother has had a disastrous grant settlement deal from the Government.

There is a funding gap of between 80,000 and 100,000 between what Rother will receive and what it pays for pensioners' concessionary travel.

Council leader Cllr Carl Maynard told colleagues: "I do feel that we have been stitched up.

"Representations will be made to the Government via the Local Government Association."

Head of service Robin Vennard told members he would be bringing proposals to them in January for savings totalling 170,000 needed to bring next year's Rother element of the Council Tax increase within the 5% capping limit.

Earlier, cabinet had come within a whisker of cutting next year's grant aid to the BATS and BLODS on the basis that giving the theatrical society 7,620 to put on plays at the De La Warr Pavilion could not be justified with an average house of just 84.

On the intervention of director of services Tony Leonard, that the societies would already have made commitments for 2008 this was deferred.

But the writing is on the wall. Rother HAS to make cuts.

Cllr Robin Patten said the report to cabinet showed what a bad state local authorities were in '“ and what a "dangerous" state.

At the same time that the Government is squeezing town halls through reduced grant settlement, the Audit Commission is hiking audit fees by 33% over three years.

As leader, Cllr Maynard hit out at the range of extra duties the Government was heaping on local authorities with minimal extra financial help.

Rother, he said was an exceptionally "lean" authority, making do with half the staff of Hastings.

He warned: "It is a dire situation that we find ourselves in.

"There is an 80,000-100,000 shortfall on concessionary travel '“ what the Government has conned people into believing is 'free' travel.

"The idea that it is free is a LIE. It is another stealth tax."

It came as no surprise to the few members of the public present therefore that the cabinet then agreed the full round of recommended increases in fees '“ including 15% on car parking '“ almost without further debate.

Cllr Patten said 80p to park for an hour in Battle was not dear.