Opposition abstains from voting as Arun sets maximum council tax

Members of the council approved the 2024/25 budget at a special full council meeting on Wednesday, February 21, which included a maximum council tax rise of 2.99 per cent, and a rise in social housing rents of 7.7 per cent.

Council tax in Arun district will also be affected by a 4.99 per cent increase agreed by West Sussex County Council and 5.42 per cent increase from Sussex Police, meaning a total annual average increase of £72.70 for a council tax band D home.

Roughly £3.5 million will be drawn from the council’s usable revenue reserves to cover the council’s forecast overspend in 2024/25, leaving the reserves around £17 million – with reserves expected to hit £400,000 by the 2028/29 budget due to forecast overspends.

Council leader Matt Stanley (LDem, Marine) said the council was in a ‘good’ financial position and had largely preserved frontline services, adding a move away from ‘consistent long term funding’ by central government was impacting Arun’s finances.

He said: “It’s no secret there are significant challenges impacting the finances of local government – coastal communities, such as ourselves, have been underfunded for years.

“During the journey of this budget, we’ve had more briefings, more meetings and more information than ever before, we’ve even embarked on a public consultation. We should all be proud of the level of transparency this budget has had.

“We’ve worked together to address internal culture and member behaviour, we’ve relaunched the essential review of our local plan and we’ve set up the Arun Flood Forum.

“We’re committed to the successful completion of the district’s Levelling Up projects, the Alexandra Theatre at Bognor Regis, which is the cornerstone of our new cultural strategy, and in Littlehampton the Seafront Project.”

Mr Stanley echoed the previous statement of the council’s Chief Financial Officer saying members would have to make some ‘difficult decisions’ in the future to improve the council’s financial position.

He also highlighted the council’s £8 million Bognor Regis Arcade development as a flagship brownfield housing project for the council – which could see 35 flats above the arcade.

The budget was approved by the council with 32 votes for and 19 abstentions, seeing support from every party in the chamber but the Conservatives, who voted to abstain on the budget.