Sevenoaks D.C. Budget protects services while investing in local communities

26 February 2020

Sevenoaks District Council has set a budget for the coming year that will continue to protect its services and invest in local communities.

The Council has agreed an annual budget of £15.6 million. Residents who live in a Band D property will now pay £219.96 per year in Council Tax for the Sevenoaks District Council element of their bill, an increase equal to less than one-and-a-half pence a day.

Sevenoaks District Council’s share of residents’ overall Council Tax bill will be 11p for every pound in Council Tax paid.

Cllr Peter Fleming, Leader of Sevenoaks District Council, says:

“These are incredibly challenging times for local government. In the last 10 years, our revenue support grant has fallen by over six million pounds. In simple terms that means the direct funding for every man, women and child within the District has reduced from £55.95 in 2010 to zero two years ago, and there it remains.

“But with more innovative and efficient ways of providing our services, including the weekly collection of rubbish and recycling, and income from our property portfolio, we will continue to invest in services and the most significant and ambitious capital programme in living memory, delivering investment in and for our communities.

“Over the past year, we completed the much-needed Sevenoaks Town Car Park and planning permission was approved for the Swanley White Oak Leisure Centre. We are currently applying for planning permission to bring a new business hub and housing to the important Swanley gateway site.

“The work of our two wholly owned companies has brought forward an exciting mixed tenure housing scheme in Westerham, which saw us deliver the councils first affordable homes in over 30 years

“As we look forward to the next financial year, we will work to develop an exciting Masterplan to bring education, arts, retail, transport, housing and other uses together to two Sevenoaks town centre sites.

“In Edenbridge, we will see how best to move forward a refurbishment of the Leisure Centre so it can continue to play an important part in that community for many years to come.

“At the same time, we have protected our universal services that matter most to our residents, such as our weekly waste and recycling collections, while enhancing services to those within our community who most need help and support.”

For every pound of Council Tax collected, Kent County Council’s share is 70p, the Kent Police & Crime Commissioner’s share is 10p, the average town or parish council’s share is 5p and the Kent Fire & Rescue Service’s share is 4p. Sevenoaks District Council collects the Council Tax on behalf of all these authorities.