Budget Agreed as DDC Invests for the Future

Dover District Council has agreed its budget for 23/24, with an exciting programme of investment ahead, including a fully funded capital programme totalling around £91m - while keeping the lowest Council Tax in East Kent.

The budget was approved by Council at its meeting last night (1 March). DDC agreed the district council part of the Council Tax bill for a Band D property for the year will be £208.17, an increase of 2.98%.

DDC continues to maintain a full range of core services and support for communities.   The budget includes provision for £1m to be drawn from strategic reserves, helping us to provide key services to support households, and investment for the future.

We continue to provide a range of help and support for households, including a decision by DDC to provide more help to residents through an extension of the Council Tax Support Scheme, due to take effect from 1 April.

The fully funded capital programme for the year ahead includes:

• Dover Beacon Levelling Up bid – regeneration of the Bench Street area
• Dover Fastrack – development of the Dover Fastrack bus route 
• Maison Dieu - major restoration works on Maison Dieu, (Dover Town Hall)
• Future High Streets Fund – building a new creative arts centre and underpass improvements in Dover
• Sandwich Guildhall - public realm improvements to the Guildhall forecourt
• Tides Leisure Centre – redevelopment of leisure centre, (subject to appraisal).

Cllr Chris Vinson, DDC Cabinet Member for Finance, said: “This budget keeps DDC’s share of Council Tax as the lowest in East Kent, with an increase significantly below the current level of inflation. We are making our Council Tax Support scheme, already the most generous in Kent, even more generous, and we are using strategic reserves to help provide services to support households.”

Cllr Trevor Bartlett, Leader of Dover District Council said: “We continue to work hard to support communities across the district, and we do understand that the rising cost of living continues to create challenges for people. This budget means we can continue to deliver services for our communities, while embracing opportunities ahead and investing in future growth.”

For more information on the budget, please see the report to Council on the DDC website. For more information on Council Tax, please see our Council Tax pages.

NOTES TO EDITORS

While Dover District Council is responsible for the collection of Council Tax in the district, DDC’s part of the overall Council Tax bill is less than 10% of the total collected.

The district council part of the Council Tax bill for a Band D property in Dover District for 2023/24 is £208.17, an increase of £6.03, or 2.98%.  

The average total bill for a Band D property in Dover District for 2023/24 is £2,150.91, an increase of £101.10, or 4.93%.

The Council Tax charge for a Band D property in Dover District includes: