Council Tax increase about £200 a year

Rother District Council wants 11.11 a year more for Band D properties while the county council will claim 12.75 more each month (153 a year).

Sussex Police Authority have pushed the bill even further through the roof by claiming 2.33 extra a month (28 a year).

Bexhill special expenses are still to be added.

The county council 'reluctantly' agreed to a 19.6 per cent increase in its portion of the council tax bill at a meeting on Tuesday.

This makes up 153 of the increase, with the Rother district portion likely to push the rise up by 11.11 for Band D households.

The recent news of a low Government Grant for East Sussex has forced the council to seek further funding through tax as Central Government changes to local authority grant distribution have left East Sussex with the second lowest grant in the country for 2003/04.

The increase will fund a standstill budget and protect vital services but there will be no money for improvements.