The council is working hard to balance its budget this year, like households and businesses across Worthing, whilst continuing to change the way it works with communities to provide sustainable services for the future.

Its draft revenue budget for 2025/26 highlights how a council tax rise of 2.99% - the equivalent of less than 16 pence per week extra for the average Band D home - would be enough to balance the books if the council’s request to the government for exceptional financial support is agreed.

One of the biggest pressures on the budget comes from record numbers of local Worthing residents facing homelessness coming to the council for help, and people needing supported accommodation who have been placed in Worthing by other authorities. 

The council will continue to lobby for fairer funding for our area from the government to meet this rise in demand and get the resources it needs to support those who go to the council for help.

By working with the community and its partners, the council is redesigning the way it supports residents and businesses to allow them to thrive, and continuing to invest in projects for the community.

New sports facilities will be developed at West Durrington and Hill Barn Recreation Ground, working with residents to shape the plans. Work will begin this year on a transformative project at Homefield Park to update the facilities.

The Community Infrastructure Levy funds from developers will be invested to help local community projects to grow and the council will light the beacon in support of celebrations for the 80th anniversary of VE Day in May.

A key priority for the council is the regeneration of the seafront and the town centre for the benefit of everyone who visits, lives or works in Worthing. 

During the next 12 months work will begin on the reshaping of Montague Gardens and on new plans with the community to regenerate the lido and seafront. The promenade will be made more accessible and there will continue to be improvements made in the borough’s green spaces, such as at Beach House Park.

The council is working to develop more genuinely affordable housing for Worthing residents in need of somewhere to live, including bringing back to the borough locals who are currently having to be housed elsewhere because of a lack of accommodation for them.

It has secured extra government funding for its Proactive service, where staff help some of the least well-off members of the community to get the financial help they’re entitled to.

The council also remains on track to hit its carbon neutral 2030 target, with the Worthing Heat Network under construction serving council buildings, Worthing Hospital and beyond, as well as plans to invest in electric HGVs for waste collection through to 2030, while moving to HVO, a low-carbon alternative to diesel, for its existing trucks during the transition.

The budget also sets out how the council will make its services more sustainable by increasing some fees and charges, including planning advice and the collection of green waste, so that they are funded by those who use them. The increases have been calculated to ensure that they remain affordable for those who want and need to use them.

The draft revenue budget will be considered by Worthing’s cabinet from 6.30pm on Tuesday 4th February at its public meeting in the Gordon Room at Worthing Town Hall. To read the report visit https://democracy.adur-worthing.gov.uk/documents/s14093/Worthing%20Cabinet%20-%20Budget%20Estimates%202025_26%20and%20setting%20of%20the%202025_26%20Council%20Tax.pdf.