Adur District Council has warned it is facing “tight financial restrictions” ahead of councillors agreeing on the year’s budget next week.
Its draft revenue budget for 2024/25 sets out how a rise of 2.99 per would be enough to balance its books if services for the community are “redesigned”.
The council said the average Band D council charge payable to the local authority has increased by £50 over the last ten years, to £324 for the current financial year.
A 2.99 per cent rise next year would add £9.72 a year to the bill – the equivalent of less than 19p per week, it said.
A report to be considered by Adur’s cabinet on February 1 says the services redesign will allow it to save £891,000 next year.
Plans include reducing the need to use agency staff and contractors, reviewing contracts, making greater use of digital to improve council processes and cutting print and postage expenditure, as well as continuing to generate income.
The budget proposes increases in some fees and charges, including beach hut rents and the collection of bulky waste and commercial waste. There would be no increase in green waste collection charges.
Read more: Council tax could be raised AGAIN as authority warns it is running out of reserves
A council spokesman said: “We’re facing tight financial restrictions caused by a reduction in central government funding and increasing pressure outside of our control from inflation and cost of living challenges, like every other local authority in the country.
“We’re continuing to prioritise our spending through new tighter controls on expenditure and postponing or cancelling some work in favour of funding frontline services for the community.”
The council said spending on housing will have to be increased though to tackle increasing demand.
“The continued pressure on our housing service from more residents needing to be found somewhere to live means the budget for the housing needs team would increase,” the council said.
“There would also be more investment in economic development to encourage business growth and regeneration across the district.”
It revealed £1.65 million will be borrowed to create the new sports pavilion for Buckingham Park in Shoreham using government money repayable at a lower interest rate.
“We hope to work with West Sussex County Council to invest in community improvements in Lancing and funds will also be set aside to rebuild our reserves,” the council said.
The draft revenue budget will be considered by Adur’s cabinet from 6.30pm on February 1 at the Shoreham Centre.
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