Record breaking increase in council tax for West Sussex

A report going to the county cabinet on January 31 is recommending a 4.9 per cent increase for 2006-2007.

If this is approved by the cabinet and the full county council, County Hall's slice of council-tax at band D will rise from 954.18 to 1,001.34.

District and parish council figures and the Sussex police precept have to be added to this total, which is still subject to the final government grant settlement.

The government has threatened to consider 'capping' any councils which put forward a tax rise above five per cent.

And while the county council's figure just squeezes in below this, if approved, it is still well above inflation.

However, despite this the report '“ by county treasurer Bryan Robinson '“ indicated a series of cutbacks which were being proposed.

It said these included 6m of 'deprioritising savings.'

"These represent spending reductions in areas least likely to impact on key areas of service delivery," the report added.