Moving Forward In Difficult Times

Dover District Council's Cabinet has agreed to consult on a provisional budget for 2009/10. The budget balances over the next three years and provides quality growth for the district's regeneration plans. The proposed budget will allow the Council to continue to support key partners to deliver transformational programmes including Growth Point, Dover Pride, DTIZ, Sea Change, the Waterfront, Connaught Barracks, Aylesham and North Deal.

The provisional budget has successfully kept to previous commitments over Council Tax levels. This has been managed even with the impacts of recession, the 'credit crunch', inflation pressures and income loss from interest rate reductions. The initial forecast also deals with "real terms" cuts in Central Government grant.

The provisional budget will now be developed and put out for wider public and business consultation.

Examples of priorities, pressures and savings contained within the provisional budget include:

Loss of income due to the 'credit crunch' and the downturn in the housing market, including £120,000 annual loss of land charges income, £60,000 losses in Building Control
£150,000 costs for supporting the public in its opposition to the wind farm at East Langdon
Increased concessionary bus travel throughout the country
£30,000 reduced Government grant for paying housing benefits
£75,000 increased resources to improve community engagement and communication
Working together with local Town and Parish Councils to improve public conveniences saving £40,000 per year, developing discussions held at Neighbourhood Forums
Future plans for increased shared working with neighbouring Local Authorities to deliver an additional £140,000 over the period of three years
Around £480,000 savings in staff costs resulting from transformed services and increased performance
A commitment not to increase parking charges in 2009/10 in addition to £10,000 targeted reductions in parking charges
£12,000 savings in Visitor Information Centre grants through support gained from Deal and Sandwich Town Councils
Youth homeless post secured, to deal with the current priorities ensuring the district's young people are looked after
Continued investment in upgrading strategic play areas and closer working with our Town and Parish Council partners
Increased grant support to the district's Citizens Advice Bureau to help with the increased demand due to the 'credit crunch'
£35,000 additional support to help residents to deal with financial problems
£44,000 additional expenditure to provide the most comprehensive recycling service in Kent
Planning officer posts prioritised within the reducing staffing establishment.

Full details of the provisional budget will be published on 2 January 2009, prior to it being debated at Cabinet on 12 January 2009, then further scrutinised before Council makes its final decision on 5 March 2009.