09 February 2012
Cabinet councillors in Eastbourne last night recommended not to increase the council tax in 2012/13. Leader of the Council, Councillor David Tutt, confirmed that the Eastbourne element of the bill will remain the same for the third year in a row.
No frontline services will be affected, with most of the required savings coming through greater efficiencies.
Councillor Tutt said:
“This is great news for Eastbourne residents. It has been achieved despite a 10% cut (£772,000) in the money given to Eastbourne Borough Council by central government. While I am delighted that we’ve delivered this budget without any reductions in frontline services, it causes me great concern that East Sussex County Council this week announced significant cuts that do carry implications for local services and local people.”
The East Sussex County Council element of a Band D bill amounts to £1,158.30, 73% of the overall bill.
Eastbourne’s element is just 14% or £224.19 using the Band D example. Sussex Police Authority and East Sussex Fire and Rescue account for the rest of the council tax – see table below:
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Band D Council Tax
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How the 2011/2012 bill is made up
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East Sussex County Council
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£1,158.30
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Eastbourne Borough Council
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£224.19
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Sussex Police Authority
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£138.42
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East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service
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£81.86
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Councillor Gill Mattock, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Financial Services, said:
“I pay tribute to the council officers who have assisted us so effectively in this budget setting process. We have managed to balance the base budget without drawing on reserves.
“We are required to set a minimum level of reserves - £2 million in Eastbourne - to mitigate against risks such as inflation and costs associated with major changes in government policy and legislation. However, with continued reductions in government grant forecast, the savings we’ve achieved through initiatives such as agile working have allowed us to establish a reserve level of £4 million. The council is now well placed to meet future financial challenges.”
Eastbourne Borough Council has received national award recognition for the work done to embrace agile working. Agile working involves the greater use of new technologies, allowing increased flexibility within offices, more efficient service delivery and overall cost savings.
The budget will be recommended to Full Council on February 22.
