With council tax bills arriving this week, one headline figure stands out: Rye Town Council’s part of the bill is increasing by 27%. The rise is needed, say council leaders in an interview with Rye News, because it is taking on the financial responsibility for important parts of the town, including public spaces like the Salts and Mason’s Field, the cemetery and public toilets.
The council also believes it can manage these new assets in a much better way with improved local accountability.
The assets are being transferred to Rye Town Council from Rother District Council as part of the reorganisation of local government, which will see Rother and East Sussex County Council replaced by a new authority in two year’s time.
Rye Town Council conducted a survey of residents last year into whether it should take over some of Rother’s assets. Of the replies received, most were in favour.
“More local control means having to pay more,” said Councillor Vagn Hansen. “We could refuse to take these assets, but people said they wanted us to take them. So it’s a choice of responsibility versus cost.”
“They said they would pay more tax to Rye,” said Councillor and Deputy Mayor Chris Hoggart. “Residents wanted the council to take on more responsibility, even if it meant higher bills.”
Frustration with the local government changes isn’t helping either, said Mayor Andy Stuart. “We aren’t able to engage in any long term contracts and then drive prices and costs down because we don’t know what’s going to happen. Everything has been decided by Rother for now, whatever replaces it could rip it all up in the future.”
The 27% increase takes Rye’s part of the council tax to £183.96 for a Band D property. Whilst it is a big percentage increase it makes for a very small part of the £2,795.17 total. The vast majority of the bill (£1,960.29) goes to East Sussex County Council, capped at 5% by law. In contrast, town and parish councils are not restricted. Residents in Bexhill are facing an increase of over 70%.
The latest bills also show Rye having the highest council tax for Band D properties in the Rother District, and one of the highest in East Sussex.
“We really would like to not put it up at all,” said Mayor Andy Stuart. “But it’s impossible given the amount of assets being passed down to us and the known costs that come with them, and the potential for even higher costs too. The percentage increase looks big, but in actual pounds it’s much smaller. It is bad news for people having to pay and I realise a lot of people are going to struggle with this.”
The increase in the Rye council tax could have been far worse.
“The first draft of the budget was around 50% more,” said town clerk Richard Farhall. “We’ve had to prune it to 27%, which shows the level of prudence and care we’ve taken.”
He says the council receives some income which has helped lower any potential tax increase, but not by much. “It’s principally the town hall, which is mainly ceremonies and around 100 weddings a year. Although it looks like a lot on paper, after administration, the surplus is minimal – about £100 per ceremony.”
“Had Rother given us some assets that actually make money, we wouldn’t have had to put up the council tax at all,” said Chris Hoggart. “One car park might have done, two would have been even better, but they refused and there’s no discussion anymore.”
That refusal to pass on assets that raise revenue is only going to get worse, said Vagn Hansen. “Once Rother disappears, and we move up to the unitary council, they’re definitely not going to give us any income-generating assets. Local control would be lost if we didn’t take them now.”
The changes are also being seen as a way Rye Town Council can engage more with people in the town.
“More accountability is coming,” said Chris Hoggart. As the mayor-elect he’s looking forward to the challenge. “People will knock on our door more and ask why things aren’t working because it’s now our responsibility to manage these new assets. The good news is local people might know a bit better who’s dealing with them.”
Image Credits: Jim Linwood CC , James Stewart , Martin Blincow .