At a meeting of full Council on 22 February 2023, Horsham District Council councillors set the Council’s financial and capital budget for the coming financial year which starts in April. This follows receipt of information from central Government about the amount of positive financial settlement the Council will receive during the coming financial year.
Despite the significant cost increases from inflation, good financial management and healthy reserves put the Council in a strong position to sensibly invest both now and in the future, including significant investments to help vulnerable residents struggling with the cost- of- living crisis and to meet the environmental challenges of the climate emergency.
We continue to charge the lowest Council Tax in West Sussex and remain in the lowest quartile in the UK, yet we maintain high quality services for our residents.
In 2023/24, the Council will be:
- Spending £1.15 million to help support residents in need as a result of the current cost of living crisis.
- Setting aside £15million in an Environment and Infrastructure Reserve to be spent on climate change, helping to reduce the Council’s direct emissions to help it become carbon neutral by 2030, and key infrastructure replacements.
- Carrying out an ambitious £8.5 million capital programme providing infrastructure and facilities for residents.
The Council is budgeting for break-even in 2023/24. The net budget requirement for 2023/24 at £13.5m is £1.2m higher than (£12.3m) in 2022/23, reflecting the significant impact of annual inflationary and salary cost-pressures.
For 2023/24 it was agreed that Council Tax would increase from £162.09 a year by £4.85 (2.99%) to £166.94 a year at Band D.
Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets Cllr Paul Clarke commented:
Against a backdrop of ongoing cost pressures and high levels of uncertainty, the Council continues to progress its ambitions for the District, delivering excellent services and providing extra financial support for the more vulnerable residents in the midst of the cost-of-living crisis.
This year’s budget setting process has been very challenging.
I am particularly pleased that we have agreed extra funds to support vulnerable residents during these difficult times, and also that we can build upon our great work to reduce our carbon emissions, whilst also being able to invest in a forward- thinking capital investment programme.