Sevenoaks Town Council prepares its annual budget for 2019/20 and remains committed to improving community facilities
Sevenoaks Town Council sets its Precept (Council Tax) for 2019 / 20
At £1,141,385 a 3% increase on previous year
Equating to £118.43 (£2.30 per week) per year per Band D Household
In preparing its annual budget for 2019 – 20, Sevenoaks Town Council says it has again looked hard at opportunities to make savings (both in terms of cuts and further efficiencies), while at the same time providing the projects, functions and services that it has previously committed to delivering to the community of Sevenoaks.
The Town Council meeting held on 21 January 2019 set its 2019 – 2020 Precept (Council Tax) as follows:
- Annual budget £1,882,554
- Net expenditure budget (less income generated) £1,141,385 = Precept / Council Tax
- Average band D property £118.43, approximately £2.30 per week
- 03% / £3.48 increase on band D property on previous year
The refurbishment of Bat & Ball Station is one of the community projects that has benefited from investment by Sevenoaks Town Council.
The Town Council has a policy of seeking external funding for capital projects and has a Development Fund to enable this to happen. During 2018 / 2019 financial year approximately £2.3m of external funding was obtained for investing in Sevenoaks community projects.
In 2014 Sevenoaks Town Council undertook a ‘Blue Skies Exercise’ and from this set out its first Community Investment Plan £4m to restore and improve community facilities.
It was an ambitious plan for a small authority with the aim to invest £4m into improving community facilities. The Town Council says it is proud to report its progression with the first Community Investment Plan see below and that building on the success of the first Community Investment Plan it will move to a second plan which will continue with the original and sets out additional priorities for the next five years.
Community Investment Plan Progress Report
| Project | Progress | Investment |
| Raleys Gym replacement | Invested into new facilities at Sencio Leisure Centre | £95,000 |
| Indoor Cricket School replacement | Placed in escrow account for development | £150,000 |
| Café on the Vine | Restored historic building and brought back into useful community use – completed. | £150,000 |
| New Play Area near the Town Centre | Constructed at Environmental Park – completed | £100,000 |
| Greatness Recreation Ground – new facilities | New public toilet, fencing, additional benches and play equipment – completed | £50,000 |
| Multi Use Games Area | To replace tennis courts at Community Centre awaiting construction of new centre | £100,000 |
| Additional recreational facilities | Additional play equipment at Kippington Meadow – completed | £4,000 |
| Sports Strategy | 3G Football Pitch at Greatness – completed 3G Rugby Pitch at Knole Paddock – planning stage 3G Hockey Pitch at Hollybush (contribution) | £450,000 £500,000 £50,000 |
| Neighbourhood Development Plan | Completed to draft stage awaiting Local Plan development. Masterplan for Northern Sevenoaks developed and supported by approximate 70% of the local community. Provides plan for regeneration and investment in the local area.
No. 8 Bus – orbital bus route connecting residential areas to the town centre. Winner of UK Community Bus 2018. | £100,000
£150,000 |
| Bat & Ball Centre | Planning permission has been obtained and construction due to commence June 2019. | £2,750,000 |
| Bat & Ball Station refurbishment | Station building New access ramp to platform 1 Cycle racks to station entrance
Cycle racks (including electrical charging) on community centre land next to ramp.
New pedestrian access to Otford Road
| £1,100,000 £60,000 £29,000
£45,000
£35,000 |
| Total | £5.918,000 | |
| Funded by | ||
| Sale of Raleys | £2,600,000 | |
| External Funding (to date) | Additional grants to be sought. | £2,673,600 |
| Total | £5,273,600 |
