Doesn't Make Census

The unexpectedly low population count for the district is set to hit Arun council tax payers in the coming year, as the Government cuts the amount it gives the council, based on the number of residents.

Council leader Norman Dingemans said Arun had "reservations" about the accuracy of the census and had challenged the figures with the Office of National Statistics.

Projected figures from the 1991 census, the latest data available before the 2001 census details were made available, had pointed to Arun having a population of 144,778. But when the new statistics came out, that was reduced to 141,030, a total of 3,748 fewer residents.

Arun will receive more than 1m less as a result of the "missing" people, but council tax payers will not have to make up all the difference, as 2.1m will be taken from reserves to bridge the funding gap.

For a typical, band D property, Arun's share of 2003-04 council tax bills will rise by 6.5 per cent from the current 114.30 to 121.77. However, Arun receives only one-eighth of the overall bills, the vast majority going to the county council, which looks like approving an increase of at least 15 per cent.

In something of a double whammy, Arun's grant from central Government is also being reduced because although census officials claim there are FEWER residents, another Government department reckons there are MORE households, which should be bringing in more money for the council, a total of 10.6m, compared with the 9.16m it actually receives.

Bridging that 1.5m gap without taking the money from Arun's reserves would have resulted in its council tax rising by 30 per cent.

Said Mr Dingemans: "We obviously have a lot more people in the district than the census shows. All the houses being built are not just for single people. Where all these people have got to is debatable, so we have reservations about the census."

The Local Government Association is taking up Arun's concerns over the census with Government ministers.

But the Office for National Statistics claims the 2001 census was the most accurate ever and will only consider investigating complaints where there is a significant anomaly. Arun's variation is around three per cent.

Arun's cabinet of leading councillors approved the provisional budget on Monday and the final vote will be taken by the whole council next month.