Arundel's council tax frozen for a second year

Arundel residents are set to have their council tax frozen for the second year in a row. 

It will be the second year running that council tax has been pegged if Full Council supports the recommendations approved last night (Monday, February 13.)

That would mean the average Band D taxpayer continuing to pay £161.37 for all the services delivered by the district council, which include weekly refuse and fortnightly recycling collections, environmental health services, parks and open spaces, extensive regeneration programmes as well as planning and building control services.

However, residents will have to add to that figure any sum needed by West Sussex County Council as well as Sussex Police, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and precepts charged by individual town and parish councils and were reminded that the district council only keeps 11% of the total charged to pay for all its services among many others.

Council Leader Gillian Brown said: "We are getting ever closer to a balanced budget and we are in a very strong position compared to other Councils. We have a solid financial strategy and we are not lurching from budget to budget."

Cabinet were told last night that the Council has achieved savings of almost £1million in the last year from additional income generated through managing its vacancies as well as significant income from the new South Downs National Park and the district's good recycling performance.

Speaking after last night's meeting, Cllr Mrs Brown said: "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.

"We continue to work hard to make sure that Arun District Council remains in a strong financial position and I believe that the district's share of the council tax bill  – £161.37 – for all the services people receive represents good value for money."

District Councillors have spent the last three months looking in detail at every service the authority provides to determine the next set of Arun Priorities that will run from 2013/2017. At the same time, the Council is also required to achieve savings of £2million from its 2013 budget.

Mrs Brown added: "It will be a challenging time ahead but it is important that we try as hard as possible to relieve the burden on local tax payers. At the same time we are focussed on protecting frontline services and delivering the things our residents tell us are most important to them."

Arun's Full Council will make the final decision when it meets on February 21.