Sevenoaks council tax announced in budget meeting
Council tax will rise by a staggering 2.9 per cent, it emerged at this year's budget meeting.
The leap was blamed on the financial crisis and a lack of funding from central government.
Sevenoaks officers were forced to find a funding gap of more than £800,000 to keep the rise in council tax to a manageable level, but they admitted it could rise to 3.5 per cent in 2011.
This is compared to a national average council tax increase of 1.8 per cent.
Older residents will be hardest hit, with the pension budget up by just £85,000, falling way below the national inflation rate of 3.5 per cent. The rise in council tax will add to a drain on pension savings, according to Age Concern Sevenoaks.
Swanley and Sevenoaks Citizens advice bureau will also see their funding cut by £7,000 and other voluntary organisations by £10,000 overall.
Glossy district council magazine In Shape is set to continue, despite a £10,325 cost of production for every issue. It comes out three times a year.
Councillors also voted to keep civic expenses budget at £44,111, a cut of £24,000. This follows outrage highlighted in the Chronicle over the council Christmas Dinner and other functions.
The budget was also criticised by opposition members for failing to make bigger cuts in the district council call centre after setting aside £460,269.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats cllr Roger Walshe said: "We feel it is much more important to maintain and improve services to local residents than spend unnecessary amounts of tax payers' money on internal items."
Sevenoaks District Council chairman Peter Fleming blamed the problems on central government and admitted the district council could be in the red by March.
The authority received the lowest government grant per head in Kent with funding increased by 0.5 per cent, 3 per cent below inflation.
"We can't expect our residents to pick up the tab for this Governments appalling failings in proper funding," said cllr Fleming , speaking at a budget meeting on February 23.
"If we received a grant at the average level, we would receive £3.7m more next year, which would equate to a reduction in our part of the Council Tax bill of 59 per cent.
"This cannot continue and although we have pursued fair funding for SDC in the past we are redoubling our efforts with the support of one of the district MPs."
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by David Horton, Sevenoaks
Monday, March 01 2010, 11:05AM
“Another reason why there should be root and branch reorganisation of the tiers of Government. Happy to say that it is rumoured that this is being seriously considered by both the main parties as a way of saving money.
1. Increase the role of Parish Council ¿ true local accountability over building planning and civic amenities
2. We don't need SDC or any of the District Councils. Scrap them and move the functions to Parish and County Council
3. Maintain KCC
4. Scrap GOSE completely
5. Overhaul Westminster democratic process
6. Leave the EU
Then Council Tax will not need to go up. Easy”
by Resident, Sevenoaks
Sunday, February 28 2010, 10:57PM
“Mr Fleming - stop making the excuse that central government isn't paying enough and sort it out. Year after year it's the same excuse. Do something about it!
We all know this Labour government has been squeezing middle class areas of Britain for the last decade- it's about time people stood up to this farce. What are you going to actually do about it??!”
by Fed up, Sevenoaks
Sunday, February 28 2010, 10:57AM
“If we didn't have to pay for millions of immigrants, benefit spongers, health tourists and single parent families promoted by this Labour government, we wouldn't have continuous above average council tax rises and might have a bit more to spend on local services for local people.”
by Upset Council Tax Payer, Otford, Otford
Sunday, February 28 2010, 9:19AM
“Mr Saxton not everyone in the Sevenoaks area has deep pockets and I, as a Council Tax payer, am appalled at the quality/inability of senior management in both SDC and KCC. The £50m invested in the Icelandic Bank is public money so why was it not used for the benefit of the public in Kent, in improving services as mentioned in comments below, or reducing the level of Council Tax payable by the Council Tax payers of Kent?”
by Independent, Sevenoaks
Saturday, February 27 2010, 7:38AM
“John - thanks for the long-winded explanation of the inner workings of local government but it's quite simple - demands for more money should be matched with better service whether in private or public services (whoever is delivering them). In the last 5 years, tax has gone up substantially in Sevenoaks with arguably a reduction in the service provision in real terms. Think Value for Money!”