PR1520/MF/MF
23 January 2012
Mid Sussex District Council is proposing to ‘freeze’ its Council Tax bill for the second year running – despite having to make £2 million in savings over the next four years.
The proposed Council Tax ‘freeze’ is part of Mid Sussex District Council’s draft Corporate Plan and Budget for 2012/13, which was presented to the Council’s Performance and Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday 17 January 2012. The proposals were considered thoroughly by the Committee and will now be discussed by Cabinet on Monday 6 February, before they are presented to Full Council on Wednesday 29 February for formal approval.
Mid Sussex District Council has already made savings of £4.2 million, over the past five years, but a 15% reduction in Central Government grant, rising inflation and an increasing demand for temporary housing mean that the Council must save a further £900,000 during the next financial year. The way the Council intends to make these savings, deliver its services and allocate its resources is set out in the draft Corporate Plan and Budget 2012/13 – www.midsussex.gov.uk/corporateplan.
The Council is keen to protect local residents from economic downturn and this is reflected in the 2012/13 draft Corporate Plan and Budget proposals. A Council Tax ‘freeze’ will keep more money in the pockets of residents and 85% of the savings the Council is proposing will be made through changes to in-house operations. The Council is restructuring the shared revenues and benefits service it operates with Horsham and Adur District Councils, using voluntary redundancies wherever possible to deliver the services in a more efficient and cost effective way.
In such difficult financial times, tough choices need to be made and Mid Sussex District Council has been faced with many. The Council is proposing to increase some parking charges by 20p and move the price of its Garden Waste service from £55 to £60.
The proposed changes to parking charges will only apply to people who park for one or two hours, all other prices will remain the same. It was reported at the meeting that the charge for one hour’s parking had not been increased for seven years and a 20p increase is actually below inflation over that period. Should the revised charges be introduced, car parking in Mid Sussex would still compare favourably with neighbouring local authorities and some Members felt the change was fairer than an increase in Council Tax because visitors to the area will contribute as well as local residents.
It is expected that the proposed changes to parking charges will raise £75,000 next year, with the changes to the price of garden waste collections contributing a further £60,000 towards the £900,000 the Council must save during the year.
“From speaking to residents, I know people understand that we are in a tough position and I believe that our budget proposals represent the fairest way of making the savings that are required of us,” said Councillor Jonathan Ash-Edwards, Cabinet Member for Finance and Service Delivery. “By finding new ways of working, we are making taxpayers’ money go further and are able to avoid the cuts in frontline services that many councils have made.
“This year, we are again protecting grants to the voluntary sector, maintaining high quality waste, recycling and street cleaning services and continuing to invest in our popular leisure centres.
“We are committed to doing everything we can to help residents and are proposing a Council Tax ‘freeze’ for the second year running to help keep money in the pockets of local families.”
ENDS
