Council tax hike twice the rate of inflation

The overall council tax bill for people living in the Lewes District, including the cost of the county council, police and fire services will go up by 4.2 per cent.

This means the bill for an average Band D property in the district for 2008/2009 will be 1,541.10.

The new council tax bills issued in March will therefore show an increase of 1.19 per week on a Band D property.

Lewes District Council will charge an extra 16 pence per week for a Band D property.

The council said the increase will help to pay for improvements in waste management, recycling and street cleaning.

Cllr Jon Freeman, deputy leader of the district council, said: 'We are going to forge ahead with a progressive programme of service improvements for residents and businesses.

'We are able to do this by continuing our efficiency drive to reduce overhead and administration costs and maintain healthy financial reserves and balances to support services as well as reducing our net budget by 479,000 over the next three years.'