SWANLEY residents face a rise in Council Tax coupled with cuts to services as Sevenoaks District Council struggles to balance its books.

Councillors are trying to prevent a steep rise in Council Tax by reviewing which services should be cut back in Swanley and surrounding villages.

Up until now, the council has raised £3m in interest from its savings which, according to a council spokesman, "keeps Council Tax low".

But with a downturn in interest rates, the council can no longer rely on this source of income.

While the council hopes to keep its services running, the alternative is raising its Council Tax charge by up to 15 per cent above the rate of inflation.

Sevenoaks District Council will also have to foot the bill for pay increases to remedy staff shortages and attract experts in environmental health and alleviate problems in retaining staff and low staff morale.

While the council has been quick to point out staffing problems are not unique to it, councillors have been looking at ways to solve the problem. Flexible job packages include pay increases, subject to a review of annual leave, offering a car loan scheme to all staff, interest-free ticket loans and a review of childcare arrangements.

The council also plans to approach other debt-free local authorities to join it in highlighting to Westminster the inadequacies of government funding.

Cabinet member for finance, Councillor Clive Bruce said: "Many debt-free councils receive little or no direct additional funding while being asked to provide a raft of additional services."

December 11, 2001 10:37

Lucy Brinicombe