Tunbridge Wells Borough Council agreed their budget for 2008/09 at the Full Council meeting on Wednesday 20 February. A council tax increase of an average 4.99% was agreed which is equivalent to 10p per week on a Band D property.

The updated Strategic Plan sets out what the Council should achieve through to 2011 and is supported by the Medium Term Financial Strategy and other policies. These plans shaped the approved budget.

Demands from central government have impacted on the finances of Tunbridge Wells Borough Council. Changes to the Concessionary Travel scheme, being introduced from 1 April, is estimated to cost the council tax payer of this borough an additional £330,000, the equivalent of an additional 7 - 8% on council tax, and the local filter, the shift of responsibility onto the Borough Council to investigate Member complaints, a further £20,000.

Any opportunity for joint working has been grasped and the Council now share the cost of some posts with Maidstone and Sevenoaks. Tunbridge Wells Borough Council played a leading role in setting up a Business Process Transformation programme with Ashford and Maidstone to examine a number of council procedures with the aim of efficiency savings and an improved experience for our customers.

The 08/09 budget includes additional resources towards the Council’s priorities which were agreed following public consultation. These include continuing ongoing support to TN2 and the Sherwood Community, an allocation to carry out a housing stock condition survey, funding to support our youth through successful lottery fund applications, funding for the concessionary fares as the scheme turns national and additional funding to meet the Council’s new responsibilities under the local filter.

Cllr Len Horwood, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services, said:
‘By taking this more proactive approach and staring work on the budget as early as July last year, we were able to limit the impact of enforced budget reductions. We have a balanced approach that enables the Council to fund its priorities as we move to a more sustainable financial position where we are no longer relying on investment interest. This is a robust budget, set in a very transparent process, which once again directs additional resources towards the Council’s priorities whilst investing towards a more modern Council.’