4.5 per cent council tax rise planned

Council tax bills for Wealden residents are expected to increase by 4.5 per cent in the year for 2007/8. This mean the average Band D property will pay £1,047.28 for the year, an increase of £43.18 over last year.
By The Newsroom
Published 12th Feb 2007, 16:30 BST
Updated 7th Jun 2018, 22:51 BST

The district council has estimated the figures based on what its own increase could be plus what it expects precepts to be from East Sussex Council, Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire Authority and the average parish.

It suggests the average parish council tax precept for a Band D house will increase from 65.85 to 71 but some places will pay more than that. For example the Express has previously reported that the bill from Uckfield Town Council will be 119.84.

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The estimates show East Sussex charging 1,047.28, Wealden 157.03, Sussex Police 121.53, East Sussex Fire Authority 73.70.

A meeting of the full Wealden Council on Wednesday (Feb 21) is due to fix the district's portion of the council tax. An increase of 4.2 per cent for its own element has been recommended.

Members are also being asked to agree that its increases over the next three years should be fixed at between three and five per cent.

The council's cabinet which met last week (Feb 7) was told that in terms of population Wealden was the 20th largest district council in England yet it had the 15th worst grant settlement.

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The government formula assessed Wealden as being 'relatively prosperous and needing little support' and the district received the lowest amount from government per head of population in East Sussex.

Hastings Borough Council receives 114.20 per person, Eastbourne 105.74, Rother District Council receives 72.62, Lewes 63.83 and Wealden 54.03, councillors were told.

'This means Wealden needs to fund 55 per cent of its spending from Council Tax compared to an average of 46 per cent for district councils in England,' said a report to cabinet.

It went on to say that the total Council Tax charged to residents was dominated by East Sussex County Council's precept which was 71 per cent of the total bill. Indications were that their element would rise by 4.3 per cent. Fire and police elements were expected to rise by 4.9 per cent and five per cent. The average parish element was estimated to increase by 7.8 per cent.

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Related topics:WealdenEast Sussex County CouncilSussex PoliceEngland