2024/25 budget approved

Published Monday 26 February, 2024
Last updated on Monday 18 March, 2024

Most households in the borough will be paying £3.86 a week or less for Swale Borough Council services.

Swale councillors agreed the budget, and council tax levels, for 2024/25 at a meeting last week.

Band D homes will be charged £200.70 over the year for the services that Swale provides and includes extra money to support local people facing homelessness, providing a new waste contract, and improving street cleaning across the borough.

The Band D charge, which is typically used to describe council tax levels, works out at £3.86 a week, though most households in the borough will pay less as their homes are in a lower council tax band.

Swale also collects council tax on behalf of other authorities, meaning Band D properties bills will be made up of:

• Kent County Council - £1,610.82 (up 4.99%)
• Kent Police and Crime Commissioner - £256.15 (up 5.35%)
• Swale Borough Council - £200.70 (up 2.95%)
• Kent Fire and Rescue Authority – £89.91 (up 2.99%)
• Town and parish councils (where applicable) – average of £57.99 (up 11.58%)

Cllr Tim Gibson, leader of the council, said:

“I’m pleased we have been able to work together to set a budget that we believe will keep us on a sound financial footing, whilst delivering the essential services local people value.

“Our share of the council tax bill helps us provide a broad range of services like play areas, food hygiene inspections, waste and recycling collections, taxi licensing, homelessness support, planning advice and street cleansing to name just a few.

“For all that, most of us – more than 80 per cent – will be paying £3.86 a week or less.”

The budget was approved by full council on Wednesday 21 February