Rother council tax set

For a mid-range Band D taxpayer the budget means a total council tax bill of 987.94 including

county council, Sussex Police Authority, Bexhill special expenses charge and Charter Trustees precepts, of which the Rother element is 103.73.

The new D Band tax works out at 22.45 a week over the council's ten-month repayment period.

Band A householders in Bexhill will pay 658.62 a year.

Range-topping Band H properties will be liable for a 1,975.88 bill.

The Liberal Democrats and Labour opposition refused to back the ruling Conservatives' budget At an acrimonious meeting Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Stephen Hardy compared the 26.7 per cent "hike" with the 233 per cent "increase in pay" council and Conservative group leader Cllr Graham Gubby will receive under a new allowances scale.

The allowances recommended by an independent panel were the subject of an earlier row in which Cllr Hardy's move to delay their implementation until after next year's May council elections was heavily defeated.

Cllr Hardy (Bodiam and Ewhurst) put the blame for the increase on "financial mis-management" by the Tories.

He said the Conservatives put the blame on the "swingeing" tax increase on falling interest rates cutting Rother investment income. But many taxpayers were suffering the same problem.

He concluded: "It simply remains for the taxpayers of Rother next May to pass their judgment..."

County leader Cllr Peter Jones (Conservative, Rye) said the Liberal Democrats had cost the taxpayer by calling a special full council meeting to debate the "specious" allegations of former MP Charles Wardle.

"We have been delivering good services in a cost-effective way and we are still charging less than Hastings, Eastbourne, Wealden and Lewes."

Cllr Sue Prochak (Liberal Democrat, Salehurst) said the proposed Rother council tax was 44.9 per cent higher than in 1999-2000. "I still don't see any increase in services."

Cllr Gubby (Conservative, St Stephen's) said: "I hope the electorate do not forget what we proposed this year for the residents of Rother.

"I also hope councillors will take back the facts to the residents. They would know then where their money was going."

Refuting Liberal Democrat claims, he reeled off a catalogue of facts and figures on Rother-wide investment including more than 3m in Rye alone.

"Rye is no bigger than Pebsham. I am sure Pebsham would like 3m spent on it."

Effectively, Eastbourne would be charging 27 more than Rother in the coming year, Hastings 37 more and Wealden 52 more.

He told the opposition: "It is all very well scare-mongering with talk of percentage increases. When you start at a very low base, no matter what the percentage increase it will be a small increase in cash terms. Although 27 per cent may sound high it equates to 42p a week."

Bexhill council tax 2002/3

Band A: 658.62

Band B: 768.40

Band C: 878.16

Band D: 987.94

Band E: 1,207.48

Band F: 1,427.02

Band G: 1,646.56

Band H: 1,975.88