District council confirms council tax for 2013/14

JPCT 130312 Park North, Hosham District Council office. Photo by Derek Martin

Horsham District Council’s Director of corporate resources reported to council the proposed Budget for 2013/14 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy at the meeting last week, as reported on the County Times website on Thursday.

Following West Sussex County Council formally agreeing its precept on Friday, Horsham District Council officially set the council tax at the full council meeting on last night (February 19).

The annual Band D Council Tax charge is split as follows: £ 135.54 to Horsham District Council, £1,161.99 to West Sussex County Council and £138.42 to the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner - all frozen at the 2012/2013 charges.

Horsham District Council also has responsibility for setting the special charge for the unparished areas of Horsham town. That too will be frozen at £23.71.

If people see a change in their council tax bill, it will be because their parish councils have chosen to alter their precepts.

Some 27 of the 33 parish councils in the Horsham district have agreed increases to their precepts, Ashington, Storrington and Sullington and Thakeham have agreed to freeze their precepts and Parham and Rudgwick have made slight decreases.

Roger Arthur, Horsham District Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for efficiency and resources, said: “Despite reductions in grants of over £2 million per annum in the past five years, we have been able to sustain valued discretionary services, such as Anti-Social Behaviour Management, Leisure Services and grants to voluntary organisations, without increasing Council Tax.

“We intend to do that for as long as we can, maintaining a balanced budget in the face of Government cuts, by continuing to increase income from assets, whilst improving efficiency and value for money.

“I would like to thank officers at Horsham District Council for their untiring efforts to sustain the Council’s financial position, in the face of some unusually difficult challenges.”

Further information about the Council’s budget, including Council Tax issues, is available by calling Horsham District Council on 01403 215301 or email [email protected]