Council tax to rise

On Monday the council's executive agreed an estimated rise of seven-and-a-half per cent on its portion of council tax.

But this amount does not include any increases from the police and the county council who both felt they missed out on adequate government funding this year.

At the moment an estimated figure for West Sussex County Council is around 15 per cent.

Council tax for 2003/04 will be agreed in February.

Sheila Player, leader of the borough council, said: "It's an achievement to keep it to 7.5 per cent. We have had everything thrown at us but we have still managed to keep it low."

Sussex Police say they will have to make "tough financial decisions" after the government announced its provisional budget settlement for police authorities.

The increase for core funding for Sussex was set at 3 per cent - not enough, says the authority, to cover salary, pension and other increases which have to be made.

The announcement was described by the police authority chairman David Rogers as "confirming our worst fears".

Chief Constable Ken Jones described it as "extremely disappointing".

He added: "The funding increase announced is insufficient to meet the costs of current service standards, never mind the improvements to policing which we and the people of Sussex would like to see.

"We spend less than most other forces but will nevertheless be examining our options very carefully."

The police authority will be considering the budget at its meeting on December 19.