County tax set for 4.49% rise

If approved, it will mean the average band D tax payer will have to find an extra 91p a week for the 80 per cent of public services provided by the county council, which include schools, social services, roads, the fire and rescue service and libraries.

The current band D tax for county services will go up from 1,050.84 to 1,098 a year. District or borough council figures and the Sussex Police precept have to be added to that figure.

County Hall is pointing out that 4.49 per cent will be the lowest percentage increase in West Sussex since council tax was introduced in 1993, and close to the 4.3 per cent latest published retail prices increase. Last year's rise was 4.9 per cent.

County cabinet member for finance and resources Cllr Steve Waight said a focus on 'modernising and efficiency' was the key reason for a lower percentage increase for 2008/09, and no cuts in front-line services.

He said: "It is certainly not due to support for services to our residents from the Government, which is giving us a grant increase for the next financial year of just two per cent.

"That is an extra 1.9m in cash terms '“ it does not even cover the 2.1m we need for the increase in landfill tax let alone make an inroad into the 10m needed to cover inflation.

"The fact that we look like coming in with a 4.49 per cent increase is due to our own internal drive for efficiency savings, and changes in the way we operate as an organisation."

Council leader Cllr Henry Smith said the final budget package would see 15.3m worth of investment in many front-line services.

Proposals included an extra 4.1m for a range of adults' services, an increase of 1m to meet the pressure on the costs of looked after children, and continued investment in the '3 in 1' concessionary bus fares scheme that had slashed the cost of travel for West Sussex young people in full time education aged from five to 19.

A 142m capital programme included investment in highways including road maintenance, bridges, safety schemes, and cycle networks.

Major investment in county schools also continued, including the rebuilding of Bognor Regis Community College.

Cllr Smith said: "Thanks to our efficiency drive, I believe we will deliver a budget that meets the message coming through loud and clear from our residents - maintain our services but keep council tax rises down to the minimum essential to achieve that.

"And we will keep up the pressure to get down tax increases further.

Next year's increase is down half a per cent on 2007/08 and very close to the latest published increase in retail prices.

"The budget shows further reductions in tax increases planned for the following two years. The best indications at present are that, as we realise the full benefits of our efficiency savings, in 2009/10 we can achieve a tax increase marginally below four per cent, reducing to approximately 3.5 per cent the following year."

Meanwhile, Cllr Waight has told Government ministers that the county council is 'dismayed at receiving the smallest amount possible as its grant increase for the sixth successive year.'