23 February 2005

Council sets next year's tax at £145.80

Last night (Tuesday 22 February 2005) Sevenoaks District Councillors agreed a band D Council Tax of £145.80 for the coming year at the meeting of the Council.

The figure is an increase of 4.7% or £6.57 a year, equivalent to less than 13p a week.

The Council's overall budget for the next financial year will be £16.1m. This is £1.3m less that the current year's budget.

As part of setting the budget the Council made significant savings by reducing back office costs, without having a significant impact on frontline services, and by raising income.

Cllr Peter Coates, the Council’s Cabinet member for Finance, says: "We have already made significant progress in this financial year in working towards a sustainable and balanced budget and our plans for the next year continue this approach by reducing the overall cost of running the Council."

The breakdown of a band D Council Tax bill for Sevenoaks District in 2005/6 is:

Sevenoaks District Council - £145.80

Kent County Council - £877.05

Kent Police - £110.88

Kent Fire & Rescue Service - £57.15

Average town or parish council - £51.12

Total £1,242.00