Status: Past

This consultation is now closed.

We received a total of 340 responses from residents and local organisations.  We would like to thank all participants for taking part, especially Ticehurst, Udimore, Brede and Etchingham parish councils, Battle Town Council, Sussex Police, Optivo, Bexhill Homelessness Unity Group and Wheel Farm Business Park. 

The interim survey results will be reported to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (25 January)

The coronavirus pandemic has a big impact on our area – its economy, its communities and on individual households. Supporting our area’s recovery will require Rother District Council to focus and prioritise its work to tackle new challenges and take new opportunities.  We want to hear from you about what you find are the most important priorities.  Do you think your biggest concerns have changed after 2020?

The pandemic has placed even greater pressure on our resources.  We already had to make over £3 million in budget cuts.  The costs from this year will exceed an additional £3 million.  We expect most of this to be funded by the Government but not all of it.  The Government is already making statements about the costs of the pandemic. 

As we plan for next year, we know we will face further costs, stemming from the disease itself, and the long-term impacts of lockdown.  The greatest impact is the risk that higher unemployment reduces residents’ ability to pay council tax. Less council tax affects our ability to fund services.  In addition, we expect an increase in demand for our housing service due to more unemployment leading to residents struggling to pay their rent or mortgage. 

There are some big decisions ahead.  We would value your views before we set next year’s budget and define our longer-term financial strategy.

Further information on how Rother District Council spends its money, and where it gets its money from can be found using the link below.

How to Take Part in this Consultation

This consultation closed on Monday 18th January 2021