Gravesham Council have unanimously agreed to raise council tax in a bid to battle the construction of the new Lower Thames Crossing to the east of the borough.

At a historic meeting last night, all councillors voted to pass the budget – for the first time ever.

As part of new plans the average household will be expected to deal with a £4.95 per year council tax increase - taking bills from £181.71 to £186.66.

Any band D property will need to hand over an extra 9.5p a week.

Up to £150,000 of taxpayers money will be put towards fighting Highways England’s recommendations for the Lower Thames Crossing east of Gravesend.

The council is also to implement a Property Acquisitions Strategy that will set aside £10m to invest in property both within and outside the borough.

It is hoped that this will help offset £2m of government grants that will disappear within four years.

Another £10m has been set aside for the council to buy into the property market.

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Council leader John Cubitt put forward the budget at full council yesterday

This action plan is an attempt by council to combat the 43 per cent, four year reduction, from the government’s Revenue Support Grant. 

It has been estimated that by 2020, £5m – 65 percent of Gravesham’s central government support grant - will evaporate following a lessening of funds since 2010.

The council’s leader John Cubitt presented the budget to the full council yesterday (February 23).

He said: “We have to protect the services our residents expect from the council and a rise of less than 1.5p a day represents tremendous value for money.

“The government expects us to be self-sufficient by 2019-20 and we will be working towards achieving this together with some bold financial measures we are also proposing.”

Opposition group leader, Cllr John Burden, said his party would offer its experience and assistance to work together with the ruling group to address the future financial challenges.

The government also imposed a one per cent social housing rent reduction for the coming year, meaning average council house rent for this year will be cut to £88.84 a week.