COUNCIL tax bills from Worthing Borough Council look set to rise by 2.8 per cent, which works out at roughly 12p a week.

The increase would see the borough’s portion of a Band D bill rise from £231 to £237 a  year.

It would add £249,510 to the council’s coffers, balancing its budget for 2019/20.

Elizabeth Sparkes (Con, Offington) told a town hall meeting she did not want to set the increase any higher.

She added she was “mindful of the financial pressures which Worthing residents are facing”.

One aspect adding to those pressures was the announcement from the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner that their portion of the council tax bill would rise by 14.5 per cent.

Leader of the council Daniel Humphreys (Con, Offington) said: “I can assure you the police and crime commissioner is going to be getting some knocking on the door about some of the work that we really do need help with here in Worthing.”

The meeting was told that, with government funding continuing to reduce, the council would be more reliant on council tax and business rates, as well as its investment strategies.

Those strategies include investment in commercial property and temporary housing, as well as the in-house development of online services.

The final decision about the council tax rise will be made at a meeting of the full council on February 26.