COUNCIL tax is set to rise in Sedgemoor next year but residents will not see any cuts to services despite cuts from central government. 

At a meeting of Sedgemoor District Council's full council on Wednesday, February 20, members voted to approve the Council Tax and Housing Rents for 2018/2019 following their long-term plan by the managed use of balances.  

This meant that there are no cuts to services for residents.  

Sedgemoor’s element of the council tax will be increased by 3.32 per cent - an additional £5 per year on a Band D property, that’s 9p per week. 

The council also agreed to a 1.25 per cent charge for the Somerset Rivers Authority.  This equates to a £1.80 per Band D property.

The leader of council, Cllr Duncan McGinty, reminded members of some of SDC’s achievements over the past 10 years.

  • 6000 jobs
  • 4,540 homes
  • 1.74m sq ft of employment space created.
  • planning permission for hotels
  • an Enterprise Zone
  • recorded 0.4% unemployment
  • 470 new businesses
  • 30 Local Labour Agreements
  • £100m worth of education and skills provision.
  • 690 businesses registed on the HPC supply chain portal
  • £400m of investment in the District.

Other measures announced in the budget were:-

Housing

  • The build out of a £15.3m portfolio of six sites, assisted with funds including £1.2m from the Hinkley Housing Fund – delivering 110 affordable homes in Bridgwater.
  • Delivery of 644 new houses a year in the emerging Local Plan.
  • An additional £100,000 to strengthen the housing advice team
  • An additional £60,000 to provide resources to support this council’s new build housing programme.

Commericalism

£150,000 for expert advice with £50 million to invest in the commercial markets to increase income, in light of diminishing funding from central government.

Other

  • £30,000 for funding the Together Team(s) – Sydenham and Bower in Bridgwater, South Bridgwater, Highbridge and Burnham.
  • £250,000 for the Sedgemoor Apprenticeship programme.