Council Tax levels for 2021/22 have been confirmed.

Dover District Council, at a meeting on Wednesday, established that its part of the bill for 2021/22 for a Band D property will be £197.19, an increase of 2.57%.

The average total council tax bill for Band D properties in the district will be £1,986, a rise of 4.84%.

DDC collects the tax but the total cost also has payments for Kent County Council, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent, Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue, and town and parish councils.

The Dover District Council Tax element remains the lowest in east Kent.

This follows an unprecedented year for everyone, where DDC has continued to provide key services, and plan for the future, while providing a range of support to communities through the Covid pandemic.

DDC has also been preparing for the EU Transition, including the need to create an expanded Dover Port Health Function.

The 2021/22 budget incorporates a fully funded capital programme and a balanced housing revenue account. Housing projects include an ongoing programme to build up to 500 new affordable homes across the district, including interim housing for those facing homelessness.

Forthcoming projects include a range of work to protect the environment, following DDC’s declaration of a climate emergency and the aim for DDC to become a net zero carbon emitter by 2030.

Projects include new EV charging points, reduced emissions from its new waste collection contract, and decarbonisation initiatives at DDC’s Whitfield offices and Dover Museum.

The general fund budget for 2021/22 forecasts a deficit of around £500,000 and if required, some of the council’s reserves will be used to absorb the continuing impact of Covid-19 on income and expenditure.

Cllr Chris Vinson, DDC cabinet member for finance, said: “I know just how challenging the past year has been for residents and businesses across our district.

"However we’re in a much better financial position than many other local authorities elsewhere in the country. Our years of prudent financial management and significant support from the Government during the pandemic have really paid off.

" This is a carefully considered budget, prioritising key areas like housing, town centre renewal and tackling climate change.

" It will enable us to continue to provide vital services while still investing in the future of our local area.”

Council leader Trevor Bartlett said: “We look forward to embracing opportunities ahead.

This includes a range of projects across the district, from plans for the regeneration of Dover town centre, including the use of provisional funding of more than £3.2 million from the Future High Street Fund, to works on Sandwich Guildhall Forecourt and the renovation of Deal Timeball Tower.

"We have a range of projects to invest in our district and communities, support high streets back to recovery, promote tourism across the area and protect the environment for future generations.

"We also look forward to welcoming The Open back to Sandwich this year, and to progressing our Local Plan, setting out the vision and framework for future development in the district to 2040.”

For more details, see the Budget report to full council on the DDC website at dover.gov.uk/meetings

Read more: All the latest news from Dover

Read more: All the latest news from Deal

Read more: All the latest news from Sandwich