County council approves its budget as council tax to rise Labour and Liberal Democrat amendments voted down
West Sussex County Council’s portionofthecounciltaxbillwill rise by 2.99 per cent in April – an increase of more than £45 on a Band D bill.
The council’s budget was approved last week, after the meeting was postooned due to Storm Eunice.
The rise will be made up of a 1.99 per cent general increase plus an additional one per cent dedicated for adult social care.
It will take County Hall’s share of an average Band D bill to £1,555.74 – £4.26 per day – up 87p per week on last year’s bill.
As for the budget, it allows for revenue spending – the day-today costs of running the council and its services – of £648million, an increase of £23.5million compared with 2021/22. A fiveyearcapitalprogramme–money for large or one-off projects – of £755million was also approved. It includes £21million to invest in the road maintenance programme over the coming years.
Jeremy Hunt, cabinet member for finance, said: “Throughthiscapitalprogramme we continue to invest in the county’s infrastructure – not onlyforthebenefitofthecurrent generation but also for future generations to come.”
Labour and Lib Dem amendments were defeated.
Both parties called for a sizeable drop in the special responsibility allowances received by some councillors, and both included money for road safety improvements and support for carers.
On top of that, the Lib Dems asked for money to be spent on an additional mental health support team for schools and a specialist team to work with schools and families to prevent eating disorders. To cover the costs, reductions in a number of back-office budgets – such as HR, executive PAs and communications–wasproposed, alongwiththeremovalofadvisers to cabinet members.
The Labour amendments included the hiring of a number of new officers. One suggestion was for a BAME community outreachofficerforthefostering service, while another was for a sustainable transport officer to help with decarbonisation by accelerating sustainable travel and transport.
As well as calling for a cut in allowances, the group said £11,000couldbesavedbyending the catering service offered to councillors.