Council tax rise planned in Arun

An average Band D property will pay an extra £3.12 per year under the proposals, which equates to a 1.95 per cent rise to Arun District Council’s portion of council tax.

Arun has frozen its proportion of council tax over the past six years but claimed that the increase was necessary to protect services.

Councillor Gillian Brown, council leader, said: “Like all local authorities, Arun has to plan carefully over the next few years as finances will be tight. However, the future offers several exciting opportunities too.

“We are proposing to build a fantastic state-of-the-art leisure centre in Littlehampton and are working on really exciting plans which will change the face of Bognor Regis seafront.

“It’s important to remember that the Council provides a vast number of services, many of which have a huge impact on people’s lives, such as those which help to keep residents safe or aim to improve the health and wellbeing of those living in the district.”

If agreed at a special council meeting on 23 February, the increase will be introduced to bills from April.

The increase, which will raise an estimated extra £182,000 a year, follows proposals from Sussex Police to raise their portion of council tax by 3.4 per cent. West Sussex County Council plans to raise their portion by 3.95 per cent.

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