Thanet District Council 2019-20 Budget approved by Full Council

Councillors at Thanet District Council approved the proposed budget for 2019-20 at a Full Council meeting held on Thursday 28 February.

The budget sets out how the council is going to allocate £16.6 million to fund services for the year ahead (April 2019-March 2020), ensuring that resources are targeted to the areas that matter most to the local community.

As identified within the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy, the council faces some significant financial challenges, including a reduction in central government funding of £5 million over a five year period.

As a result, Councillors were asked to consider a number of proposals required to meet a shortfall of £1.8 million in next year’s budget, which were approved at the meeting.

A Council Tax rise (for Thanet’s element of local Council Tax) of 2.99%, which equates to an annual increase of £6.75 for the average band D property, was also agreed at the meeting.

Thanet District Council receives just 13p in every £1 of Council Tax. The remainder goes to: Kent County Council, Kent Police, Kent Police and Crime Commissioner, Kent Fire and Rescue Service and Town/Parish Councils.

The council has a legal obligation to produce a balanced budget at the same time each year in order to set the coming year’s Council Tax for residents.