HORSHAM District Council plans to use some of the £2.1m surplus from last year’s budget to boost projects such as the Drill Hall and skate park.

There will also be a chunk of money for schemes centred around those in need, such as discretionary housing payments support.

Recommendations approved during a meeting of the cabinet on Thursday (June 9) will be put to the full council on June 22.

Among them was a net increase of £20,000 to the leisure budget for the Drill Hall, in Denne Road.

This will enable the council to keep operating the hall to the end of the calendar year while the take-over by the Royal British Legion is finalised.

Another £20,000 was added to the £250,000 already lined up in the capital programme for the new skate park, in Horsham Park.

The meeting was told that, during a consultation with users, the council was told that higher ramps and an improved, more accessible plaza area had been requested.

There was support all round for the use of £300,000 on schemes to help those on low incomes, young people and the most vulnerable in the community.

It included £90,000 for discretionary housing payments for those on benefits – returning the pot to its previous level before a Government cut.

Another £35,000 was recommended for the hardship fund, helping people with debt, and £80,000 to expand a county council-funded mentoring scheme for young people.

James Wright, cabinet member for environment, said: “The additional support for young people and those on low incomes is really important.

We are living through difficult times.”

He added: “It’s great to be able to extend the support that the government’s already made available to those who need it.”

Liberal Democrat leader Martin Boffey said: “It is really important to be supporting those initiatives for those facing hardship.”

He added: “My only concerns would be that things at the present time only seem to be getting worse rather than better.

“And I do fear a little bit as to how things are going to fare with the economy and the cost of living later on – but we’re doing what we can now.”

Decisions which will not have to be approved by the full council included transferring £1million into an earmarked inflation fund, for use in 2022/23 should current price and salary increases cause an overspend.

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