Good And Bad News

Extra cash for the district council has been announced by the Government, but Arun's grant for 2003-4 is still the lowest for any council in West Sussex.

Updated details on Arun's funding from central Government were given to the council's cabinet by resources director Nigel Croad on Monday.

The first indications of the settlement had been "extremely disappointing", but Mr Croad said the council had since been told there would be extra cash, in the form of a larger grant from the Department of Work and Pensions, for benefits administration.

Instead of receiving what at first seemed to be 1,000 less than this year's allocation, Arun was now likely to have an overall increase of around four per cent, allowing its future spending plans to continue.

The settlement, said Mr Croad, was at the bottom of the range of funding given by the Government to councils.

Cabinet member for economic regeneration Derek Whittaker accused the Government of a "cold, calculated attack on the south-east", while Labour authorities in the north received the most benefit.

Even after the better news for Arun, council tax bills are set to rise steeply, with a 15 per cent county council increase forecast and police charges up by more than 30 per cent.