Dover District Council’s Cabinet has agreed to progress a budget for 2025/26, with an exciting programme of investment ahead and a fully funded capital programme - while maintaining the lowest Council Tax in East Kent.
At its meeting tonight (3 Feb), Cabinet agreed to a proposed increase in the district council part of the Council Tax bill for a Band D property for 2025/26 of 2.98% (or £6.39 per year). An exciting capital programme includes a whole range of affordable housing developments and regeneration projects across the district, including major projects like the multi million pound Deal Leisure Centre development, the groundbreaking Dover Beacon project, and the major restoration of Dover Maison Dieu which is now nearing completion.
The budget report also notes budgetary pressures include homelessness, which is forecast to cost £2.2m for 25/26 (£900k higher than forecast in the 24/25 budget), and pressures on key income streams, which are issues faced by many councils nationally.
Following the meeting, the budget is set to be considered by Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 17 February, and to return to Cabinet on 3 March, before going to the Council Meeting on 5 March.
For more details, please see the draft budget report to Cabinet on the DDC website.
Notes:
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 around 10% of the total collected. The district council part of the Council Tax bill for a Band D property in Dover District for 2025/26 is proposed to be £220.77.
In accordance with DDC’s Constitution, executive decisions made by Cabinet are subject to call-in by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The period for call-in expires four working days after the record of decision is published. Therefore, the information contained in this release may be subject to further review and changes and may not reflect the final decision.
Posted on 03 February 2025