It looks like £15 a month on Council Tax bills

News this week that government grants for the county have left East Sussex 29million short means the deficit must be met through tax.

A 20 per cent increase will leave the average Band D resident paying another 12.96 a month to East Sussex County Council. Early indications of Rother contributions suggest a further 10.8 per cent increase: another 88p per month.

The figures for the district are yet to be finalised. Police precepts and special expense amounts for Bexhill are still to be submitted but it is thought they will raise the Band D monthly average by 15.

The huge leap in County Council contribution stems from the 10million government grant for East Sussex for the 2003/04 tax year.

The county set requirements for meeting current service standards at 39million, leaving tax payers to pick up the remainder of the bill.

Government grant confirmation for all counties came on Monday under new procedures for distributing money from central government, with more funds being fed to the north of England.

Bexhill and Battle MP Gregory Barker has tabled draft Parliamentary Questions demanding answers from Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, saying it is the worst settlement of any county.