ENSURING Basingstoke and Deane is fit for the 21st century is an aim of the borough council.

That is according to its chief finance officer Kevin Jaquest, who spoke to members of the business community at a Hampshire Chamber event last week, held at The Hampshire Court Hotel.

Mr Jaquest gave an overview of the borough and update on some of the projects the council is involved with, such as with the redevelopment of Basing View business park, the regeneration of Basingstoke Leisure Park and the plans to build 3,400 homes at Manydown, with plans to build 15,300 homes across the borough by 2029.

He also spoke of the council working with local businesses for the Basingstoke Town Centre BID and efforts to market the town to attract more businesses.

He explained that each year the council reviews its plan and medium term financial strategy.

Mr Jaquest said: “It’s really about laying the foundations for the future prosperity of the borough and making the borough fit for the 21st century.”

He assured those attending the meeting that the administration wants Basingstoke and Deane to remain a low tax council.

“Currently the council has the sixth lowest council tax in the country, for a district council,” said Mr Jaquest.

“But the council spends the ninth highest per head expenditure.”

Mr Jaquest went on to say: “One of the reasons why the council is able to have a good level of spend per head and a low council tax is that it has a strong asset base in terms of commercial property that generates £15 million of income – 34 per cent of the income for the council.

“The council collects about £75m worth in business rates, but it keeps, to fund services, just under £3m.”

Referring to a recent statement from The Chancellor, George Osborne, Mr Jaquest said: “Going forward, business rates will be more and more important for the council and local authorities generally, because it’s the intention of the Government that business rates will be a key source of funding for local authorities by 2020.”

In terms of Basingstoke’s economic overview, Mr Jaquest said: “Economic activity in the borough is over 83 per cent, which is above the Hampshire average and significantly above the national average, which I think is about 77 per cent.”

He noted that self employed levels are at 7.5 per cent, which is lower than the national average, which is about 10 per cent.

While 80,000 jobs are provided in the borough, the unemployment rate, which is around 3.8 per cent, is slightly higher than the Hampshire average which is three per cent, but well below the national average, which is about six per cent. Mr Jaquest said there are just under 6,600 registered businesses in Basingstoke and Deane.