Arun decides 2.97% council tax rise

Householders around Bognor Regis will see their average council tax exceed Â£1,400 for the first time.

The next bills will be reaching residents in the middle of March and will take an even bigger chunk out of domestic budgets.

The final piece of the bill was agreed by Arun District Council last night.

Councillors decided upon a below-inflation 2.97 per cent increase in their share of the bill.

The decision will see the district council's slice of a band D bill will rise by 4.41 in the year from April to 152.91.

This makes the new average council tax payment 1,409.53 for an increase of 4.42 per cent on the current amount. The final bill comprises the Sussex Police Authority precept as well as the much larger chunk to the county council. Parish and town council spending completes the total.

Conservative and Independent members of Arun backed the district council budget. Liberal Democrat and Labour councillors abstained.

The council's Tory leader, Cllr Gill Brown, said councillors could be proud about Arun's financial record.