At a Horsham District Council meeting of full Council on 22 February a recommendation was agreed to establish a new Additional Community Safety Fund of some £150,000 to help tackle anti-social behaviour across Horsham District.
The Fund will support the Council and other district-wide community partners to kick-start new initiatives to help reduce anti-social behaviours to benefit local communities.
The Fund will:
- Make provision for specific interventions such as youth education programmes to inform young people about the dangers of knife crime
- Set aside a budget to employ an additional Community Safety Officer, if needed, to develop interventions for young people who have been identified to us by schools, the police or other partners.
Additionally, it was also agreed to allocate a further £150,000 to help residents on low incomes with cost-of-living challenges.
This funding will enable an up to £195 reduction in Council Tax payments for anyone of working age claiming Council Tax Support during 2023/24.
This arrangement means that a person of working age claiming Council Tax Support in a Band C property or below will not have to pay Council Tax in the 2023/24 financial year.
Commenting on the new funds Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities Cllr Tricia Youtan said:
I am really pleased that as a council we have been able to secure these additional funds, targeted specifically at community safety and those on low incomes.
Whilst statistics prove that the Horsham District is still one of the safest places to live in Sussex, we are aware of recent episodes of anti-social behaviour which has been upsetting for local people.
In order to address these concerns and reduce the relatively few instances of adverse behaviour, we think it is key to act quickly by introducing extra support.
I am also really pleased that we have agreed extra financial support to those who need it most during the current difficult cost-of-living crisis and sincerely hope it will relieve some of the anxieties they are experiencing.