Scrooge aid is "incomprehensible" says finance chief

THE Government's 1.5p-per-head Rother grant increase for the coming year remains "incomprehensible" says council director of resources Joy Cooper.

By The Newsroom

Published 20th Dec 2006, 08:39 BST

Updated 7th Jun 2018, 21:34 BST

Rother is joining with Hastings in challenging the Government over the draft settlement.

Rother cabinet was told on Tuesday that cuts totalling more than 62,000 will have to be made if Rother is to scrape under the Government's 5% limit on increasing Council Tax for 2007-2008 and escape being capped.

Even at the hoped-for 4.99% outcome, the Council Tax payable from April 1 on a mid-range Band D property would rise from 137.15 to 144.

This is equal to 13p a week compared with Government grant increase of only 3p per property per week.

Tuesday's budget report updated the cabinet on the effects of the draft grant settlement.

This said that under what is termed a "floor mechanism," Rother would get an increase in Government aid of just 0.17% - the lowest in East Sussex. Hastings will get 3.24%.