Tax rises are a real burden for people on fixed incomes. |
Good
news Arun is freezing the council tax for a 6th
year in succession, this can only be done because of prudent control
of Council spending, But not many people realise that Arun only takes
up 10% of the total Council tax, 80% goes to the County Council,
about 8% to the Police Authority and the balance to parishes. Arun
is the collecting authority on behalf of others so it appears they
get all the money.
Arun
is using some of it’s reserves to invest in a new Leisure Centre in
Littlehampton, improvements to the Arun Leisure Centre and an
upgrading of the existing Littlehampton sport & swimming centre’s
changing rooms. There will be new parking ticket machines and Arun
is investing £1m into the new Lyminster Bypass, it’s building new
Council Houses again, the first for 30 years and there is investment
in the streetscape in Littlehampton and Bognor Regis as well as a
number of Regeneration projects that will be decided on in the coming
years.
All
this is to be decided on in the Budget Council meeting on February
the 24th, so when you read this the budget should be approved, it’s
a budget for Growth and something that will underpin the local
economy.
Arundel
Town Council is investing £64k in their contribution towards the new
flood defences which means increasing the precept by a total annual
amount of £10 per annum, whilst any increase is difficult it is
something I strongly support this as these new defences will give
Arundel flood protection for the foreseeable future. I have to
applaud the Town Council in taking this step as they have shown real
leadership on their part. It is expected that Arun will invest about
£96k and the County Council over £150k
Many
of the parishes in the Arundel ward have followed Arun’s line in
the last few years by not increasing their share of the Council Tax
(Precept), which is something to be praised, but this is not the
situation in Littlehampton and Bognor Regis where the town councils
have been profligate in spending and increasing their precept to fund
this, I am critical of the two Town Councils because they have
continued to grow their own corporate and staff costs, whilst
threatening to cut contributions to services like CCTV and Public
Conveniences blaming Arun for a cutback in funding as their defence.
But
Arun has reduced its staff base by 20% and taken cuts of 40% in it’s
grants whilst until now Littlehampton Town Council and Bognor Regis
Town Council have not experienced any austerity at all, whilst
increasing their precept. UK Businesses have had to cut staff and
costs as well as government, so it seems equitable that Littlehampton
TC & Bognor Regis TC should do the same, Opposition Councillors argued that tax rises were good as it allowed them to maintain services, my argument is that we should do things differently, eg more for less which can be done if you approach the problem with a positive approach. Arun District & Arundel Town Council can
be held up as a good example of financial prudence... Until next
month. Paul Dendle is Arundel Ward & Cabinet Member for Leisure
& amenities on Arun District Council. His web address:
www.Pauldendle.org email Pauldendle@aol.com
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