Council tax in Bognor Regis to breach £1,000 mark for first time

The average demand on homeholders will increase by 47.20 or 3.3 per cent from April. This will push the cost for a band D homeowner to 1,456.73.

Arun district councillors agreed the final part of the overall bill when they set their share of the tax at 157.50 for a 3 per cent increase.

Council leader Cllr Gill Brown told them at last night's (Wednesday February 18) meeting that Arun could be proud of its financial strategy.

It proved a sensible approach as the world was consumed in financial turbulence.

The council's strategy meant residents would see increases kept as low as possible to avoid hitting their strained budgets too much while services were maintained.

"This council must do whatever it can to keep increases in its council tax as low as possible and, thereby, minimise the impact on council tax payers in these difficult times," she stated.

"As a council, we strive to improve the services we provide and to keep costs as low as possible. If we didn't, the local taxpayer would be the one that is hurt financially the most.

"This budget keeps the council tax increase as low as possible. It ensures stability in the areas that are going to be needed the most during a recession and it delivers investment in areas that will help the district when we move out of recession."

She highlighted that the council would still be spending just under 7m on capital projects. Nearly 5m of this would be on new schemes.

But, as the Observer reported last month, a spending wishlist of some 200,000 has been scrapped by the council's senior members because its finances have been hit by low interest rates on its savings and a drop in fees for services such as planning.

Cllr Mrs Brown also warned the council would have to dip into its reserves by 2m by end of March next year to avoid drastic cutbacks.

This was expected to leave a balance of about 5.3m to show the situation could not continue indefinitely.

The budget was easily passed thanks to the council's overwhelming majority of Conservatives.

How much will you pay?

Aldingbourne:

Band A: 964.56; Band B: 1,125.32; Band C: 1,286.08; Band D: 1,446.84; Band E: 1,768.36; Band F: 2,089.88; Band G: 2,411.40; Band H: 2,893.68.

Aldwick:

Band A: 960.36; Band B: 1,120.42; Band C: 1,280.48; Band D: 1,440.54; Band E: 1,760.66; Band F: 2,080.78; Band G: 2,400.90; Band H: 2,881.08.

Barnham:

Band A: 970.56; Band B: 1,132.32; Band C: 1,294.08; Band D: 1,455.84; Band E: 1,779.36; Band F: 2,102.88; Band G: 2,426.40; Band H: 2,911.68.

Bersted:

Band A: 972.18; Band B: 1,134.21; Band C: 1,296.24; Band D: 1,458.27; Band E: 1,782.33; Band F: 2,106.39; Band G: 2,430.45; Band H: 2,916.54.

Bognor Regis:

Band A: 1,011.90; Band B: 1,180.55; Band C: 1,349.20; Band D: 1,517.85; Band E: 1,855.15; Band F: 2,192.45; Band G: 2,529.75; Band H: 3,035.70.

Climping:

Band A: 969.12; Band B: 1,130.64; Band C: 1,292.16; Band D: 1,453.68; Band E: 1,776.72; Band F: 2,099.76; Band G: 2,422.80; Band H: 2,907.38.

Eastergate:

Band A: 970.02; Band B: 1,131.69; Band C: 1,293.36; Band D: 1,455.03; Band E: 1,778.37; Band F: 2,101.71; Band G: 2,425.05; Band H: 2,901.06.

Felpham:

Band A: 964.86; Band B: 1,125.67; Band C: 1,286.48; Band D: 1,447.29; Band E: 1,768.91; Band F: 2,090.53; Band G: 2,412.15; Band H: 2,894.58.

Ford:

Band A: 966.06; Band B: 1,128.12; Band C: 1,289.28; Band D: 1,450.44; Band E: 1,772.76; Band F: 2,095.08; Band G: 2,417.40; Band H: 2,900.88.

Middleton:

Band A: 960.66; Band B: 1,120.77; Band C: 1,280.88; Band D: 1,440.99; Band E: 1,761.21; Band F: 2,081.43; Band G: 2,401.65; Band H: 2,881.98.

Pagham:

Band A: 971.34; Band B: 1,133.23; Band C: 1,295.12; Band D: 1,457.01; Band E: 1,780.79; Band F: 2,104.57; Band G: 2,428.35; Band H: 2,914.02.

Slindon:

Band A: 963.18; Band B: 1,123.71; Band C: 1,284.24; Band D: 1,444.77; Band E: 1,765.83; Band F: 2,086.89; Band G: 2,407.95; Band H: 2,889.54.

Walberton:

Band A: 972.12; Band B: 1,134.14; Band C: 1,296.16; Band D: 1,458.18; Band E: 1,728.22; Band F: 2,106.26; Band G: 2,430.30; Band H: 2,916.36.

Yapton:

Band A: 970.98; Band B: 1,132.81; Band C: 1,294.64; Band D: 1,456.47; Band E: 1,780.13; Band F: 2,103.79; Band G: 2,427.45; Band H: 2,912.94.

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