Planned savings to keep a tight rein on Council Tax
Wealden District Council’s Cabinet is planning to make £644,000 worth of savings in order to limit next year’s Council Tax increase to 4.2 per cent.
“With Wealden tax payers receiving the lowest levels of Government grant support in East Sussex, we have to look for ways to ensure that residents get maximum value,” said Councillor Bob Standley, Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets.
“We have looked hard at all Council spending and produced a Medium Term Financial Strategy which will result in savings of £2.2 million over three years whilst leaving us with enough money to fund the delivery of Affordable Housing and to combat climate change”.
“We also want to bring kerbside recycling to all of Wealden, not just the CROWN areas. We hope we can negotiate with East Sussex County Council to allow us to recycle up to 50% of Wealden’s domestic waste and thereby fund the CROWN rollout. But if we are unsuccessful, we will need to look at alternative income streams, or consider introducing a lower level of service. That is why the district council is asking residents for their views on possible charges for services including charging for green waste collection and charging for parking in council car parks.
“As a Wealden resident, I don’t like the idea of paying for services which I had thought of as ‘free’. But the fact is these services – even ‘free’ car parking - all incur a cost to the community. As councillors, we would like to know what Wealden people think is most important,” explained Councillor Standley.
The current proposal would mean a 4.2 per cent increase in next year’s Council Tax payment to Wealden District Council. Wealden Council Tax contribution for a Band D Property would rise from £157.03 to £163.63 in 2008/09 - an increase of 13 pence a week.
As part of the consultation, 400 residents will be telephoned and asked for their views on the Council’s three year spending priorities. But residents can also take part in the consultation before 28th January 2008 through the Wealden internet site.
In order to keep the Council Tax increase low, the consultation also asks:
· Should developers be charged for the advice they receive from planners about major planning applications?
· Should charges be introduced for the rat pest control service?
· How would the new Wealden District Council opening hours of 8.30am to 5pm affect you?
· If there is no money to refurbish public conveniences, should they be transferred to parish councils or closed altogether?
Under Wealden’s three year spending plans, the Council is proposing to invest £100,000 a year in initiatives to create further savings in the years ahead. It is also investing in plans to move to a single site headquarters, which is expected to save £250,000 a year in the future; and in joint working with neighbouring councils and other organisations.
The consultation on Wealden District Council’s three year spending plan will finish on Monday January 28, 2008.
