The Council has increased its Council Tax by £5.22 for the 2023/24 financial year which equates to an increase of 2.70% bringing the annual charge to £198.60 for a Band D property.
There continues to be significant financial pressures on the Council for 2023/24 and beyond. The Council is responding to these pressures through its financial stability programme which is designed to deliver additional income and savings that will balance the budget over the medium term. In the interim the Council will use its reserves to best safeguard the essential services it delivers.
Council Tax per Household
| Band | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | £128.92 | £132.40 | £3.48 |
| B | £150.41 | £154.47 | £4.06 |
| C | £171.89 | £176.53 | £4.64 |
| D | £193.38 | £198.60 | £5.22 |
| E | £236.35 | £242.73 | £6.38 |
| F | £279.33 | £286.87 | £7.54 |
| G | £322.30 | £331.00 | £8.70 |
| H | £386.76 | £397.20 | £10.44 |
The Total Band D Council Tax is:
| Authority | Amount |
|---|---|
| ESCC | £1,693.80 |
| Rother District Council | £198.60 |
| Sussex Police Authority | £239.91 |
| East Sussex Fire Authority | £104.37 |
| Parish/Town Council | See the table below for each area’s amount |
Town Council Expenditures
Battle Town Council 2023/24
| Area | Gross Expenditure £ | Income £ | Net Expenditure £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finance and General Purpose | 309,025 | -16,250 | 292,775 |
| Environment | 93,791 | -21,879 | 71,912 |
| External Relations and Town Development | 21,400 | -820 | 20,580 |
| Planning and Transport | 14,510 | 0 | 14,510 |
| Town Council Precept | 438,726 | -38,949 | 399,777 |
| 2022/23 Total | 427,904 | -40,054 | 387,850 |
Rye Town Council 2023/24
| Area | 2022/23 £ | 2023/24 £ |
|---|---|---|
| General Administration | 135,507 | 150,211 |
| Grants/Donations/Loans | 7,000 | 6,500 |
| Property Purchase and Maintenance | 14,265 | 14,119 |
| Public Realm | 52,910 | 88,962 |
| Recreation | 1,000 | 9,025 |
| Tourism | 34,954 | 4,300 |
| Gross Expenditure | 245,636 | 273,117 |
| Income | -57,044 | -52,627 |
| Town Council Precept | 188,592 | 220,490 |
Bexhill on Sea Town Council 2023/24
| Area | 2022/23 £ | 2023/24 £ |
|---|---|---|
| Central Support | 127,500 | 237,250 |
| Premises Costs | 34,000 | 42,000 |
| Computers and Equipment | 5,000 | 7,500 |
| Community Committee | 64,500 | 58,000 |
| Climate, Nature and Environment Committee | 40,000 | 39,000 |
| Member Representation | 45,200 | 45,200 |
| Allotments | 3,000 | 4,650 |
| Other Costs | 23,350 | 22,500 |
| Reserves | 50,000 | 50,000 |
| Assets | 0 | 150,000 |
| Gross Expenditure | 392,550 | 656,100 |
| Income | -1,630 | -4,385 |
| Town Council Precept | 390,920 | 651,715 |
Council Tax Amounts in each Area 2023/24
| 2022/23 Local Precept £ | Local Tax Area | 2023/24 Local Precept £ | 2023/24 Local Band D Council Tax £ | 2023/24 Total Band D Council Tax £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13,000 | Ashburnham & Penhurst | 13,650 | 73.32 | 2,310.00 |
| 387,850 | Battle | 399,777 | 143.27 | 2,379.95 |
| 25,000 | Beckley | 25,000 | 45.30 | 2,281.98 |
| 1,028,380 | Bexhill (see note) | 1,330,895 | 38.31 | 2,314.91 |
| 10,980 | Bodiam | 11,420 | 68.58 | 2,305.26 |
| 38,940 | Brede | 39,945 | 46.55 | 2,283.23 |
| 7,739 | Brightling | 7,894 | 39.46 | 2,276.14 |
| 105,792 | Burwash | 105,792 | 84.15 | 2,320.83 |
| 63,498 | Camber | 63,498 | 96.01 | 2,332.69 |
| 30,000 | Catsfield | 32,000 | 83.41 | 2,320.09 |
| 29,134 | Crowhurst | 32,455 | 87.25 | 2,323.93 |
| 8,435 | Dallington | 9,435 | 54.66 | 2,291.34 |
| 0 | East Guldeford | 0 | 0 | 2,236.68 |
| 71,500 | Etchingham | 71,600 | 169.59 | 2,406.27 |
| 73,641 | Ewhurst | 77,343 | 138.86 | 2,375.54 |
| 70,000 | Fairlight | 90,000 | 100.94 | 2,337.62 |
| 9,180 | Guestling | 9,547 | 15.02 | 2,251.70 |
| 44,594 | Hurst Green | 48,681 | 82.88 | 2,319.56 |
| 157,588 | Icklesham | 159,580 | 129.15 | 2,365.83 |
| 16,000 | Iden | 16,000 | 68.45 | 2,305.13 |
| 13,100 | Mountfield | 12,000 | 59.20 | 2,295.88 |
| 100,000 | Northiam | 107,500 | 102.87 | 2,339.55 |
| 37,000 | Peasmarsh | 37,000 | 73.53 | 2,310.21 |
| 23,000 | Pett | 23,000 | 49.26 | 2,285.94 |
| 5,000 | Playden | 5,000 | 30.57 | 2,267.25 |
| 253,022 | Rye (see note) | 292,140 | 115.09 | 2,389.17 |
| 2,000 | Rye Foreign | 2,000 | 12.79 | 2,249.47 |
| 107,770 | Salehurst | 116,912 | 114.05 | 2,350.73 |
| 58,613 | Sedlescombe | 59,800 | 88.49 | 2,325.17 |
| 147,550 | Ticehurst | 150,150 | 88.31 | 2,324.99 |
| 6,630 | Udimore | 7,000 | 36.90 | 2,273.58 |
| 99,665 | Westfield | 104,000 | 93.71 | 2,330.39 |
| 7,100 | Whatlington | 7,100 | 45.28 | 2,281.96 |
| Note | Local Precept 2023/24 | Local Precept 2022/23 |
|---|---|---|
| Bexhill | £651,715 | £390,920 |
| Rye | £220,490 | £188,592 |
| Note | Rother Expenses 2023/24 | Rother Expenses 2022/23 |
|---|---|---|
| Bexhill | £679,180 | £637,640 |
| Rye | £71,650 | £64,430 |
Spending on Services
2022/23
| Area | 2022/23 Net Budget £000 |
|---|---|
| Acquisitions, Transformation and Regeneration | -13 |
| Corporate Core | 2,173 |
| Environmental Services, Licencing and Community Strategy | 629 |
| Housing, Community and Neighbourhood Services | 8,212 |
| Resources | 3,303 |
| Strategy and Planning | 1,325 |
| Total Cost of Services | 15,629 |
| Other Operating Income and Expenditure | 1,107 |
| Total Rother District Council Budget | 16,736 |
| Local Council Budgets | 2,350 |
| Gross Budget Requirements | 19,086 |
2023/24
| Area | Gross Spend £000 | Income £000 | Net Spend £000 | Capital Projects £000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acquisitions, Transformation and Regeneration | 2,715 | -3,025 | -310 | 21,466 |
| Corporate Core | 2,297 | -78 | 2,219 | 0 |
| Environmental Services, Licencing and Community Strategy | 1,036 | -360 | 676 | 0 |
| Housing, Community and Neighbourhood Services | 14,189 | -4,904 | 9,285 | 2,556 |
| Resources | 19,294 | -15,426 | 3,868 | 0 |
| Strategy and Planning | 2,179 | -1,050 | 1,129 | 0 |
| Total Cost of Services | 41,710 | -24,843 | 16,867 | 24,022 |
| Other Operating Income and Expenditure | 944 | -1,106 | -162 | 0 |
| Total Rother District Council Budget | 42,654 | -25,949 | 16,705 | 24,022 |
| Local Council Budgets | 2,717 | 0 | 2,717 | 0 |
| Gross Budget Requirements | 45,371 | -25,949 | 19,422 | 24,022 |
How Spending Changed
| Increase/(-Decrease) in Year on Year Spend | £000 |
|---|---|
| Rother District Council Net Spending 2022/23 | 16,736 |
| Contractual inflation | 632 |
| Removal of provision for planning appeals from the base budget | -300 |
| Additional savings from the Financial Stability Programme | -471 |
| Increased income returns from investments | -244 |
| Reduction in borrowing costs due to reprofiling of the capital programme | -556 |
| Increasing homelessness costs | 353 |
| Increase in housing benefit costs | 520 |
| Property Investment Strategy rental income | -639 |
| External audit fees | 98 |
| Non pay inflation | 270 |
| Pay inflation | 722 |
| Increase in fees & charges | -196 |
| Other changes in pay, e.g. removal of the health & social care levy | -220 |
| Rother District Council Net Spending 2023/24 | 16,705 |
Where the Money Comes From
| Source | £000 | £ per resident | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Income | 3,831 | 39 | 20 |
| Business Rate Retention Scheme | 4,473 | 46 | 23 |
| Council Taxpayers (including Parishes) | 11,118 | 114 | 57 |
| Gross Budget Requirement | 19,422 | 199 | 100 |
Who Funds Us
Only a small portion of our services and projects are paid for through Council Tax, the majority of our funding comes from other sources.
The gross income pie chart below shows the breakdown of where we get our money from.
---
title: Breakdown of where we get our money from (£m)
---
pie
"Non Ringfenced Grants - £1.796m" : 1.796
"Business Rate Retention Scheme - £4.473m" : 4.473
"Council Tax Payers (excl. Parishes) - £8.401m" : 8.401
"Other Income (Grants, Fees, Charges etc.) - £28.470m" : 28.570
Other Information
The budget requirement includes levies from the following:-
| Levies From | 2023/24 Amount | 2022/23 Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Romney Marshes Area Internal Drainage Board | £147,547 | £137,819 |
| Pevensey and Cuckmere Water Level Management Board | £4,910 | £4,626 |
The number of staff to be employed by the Council in 2023/24 is estimated to be 246 full time equivalents. There is an increase of 3 from 2022/23. A number of posts are funded by external sources.
National Fraud Initiative – Fair Processing Notice
Rother District Council is participating in an exercise to promote the proper spending of public money.
The Council is required by law to protect the public funds it administers. It may share information provided to it with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds in order to prevent and detect fraud. The Audit Commission currently requires us to participate in its anti-fraud initiative. For the initiative we provide details of trade creditors, taxi drivers, personal alcohol licences, payroll, Council Tax single person discounts and electoral role so that they can be compared to information provided by other public bodies.
Further information is available on our website at www.rother.gov.uk.
