EAST HAMPSHIRE District Council says it has balanced the books for this year, even though it is the only council in the country to cut council tax and has invested £29.5m in new leisure centres.
And it says an innovative financial strategy will allow it to pursue financial independence from dwindling government grants, and a minimum council tax bill for residents.
Under its strategy, £1.7m has been spent buying leasable commercial properties, and a range of businesses selling services to other local authorities have been launched.
Over the coming year these activities will see the council come close to being self-funding without cutting front line services.
This means it is on track for independence from government grants, which are expected to stop by 2020.
The council is also investing £29.5m over three years into building two new state-of-the-art leisure centres and extensively redeveloping an existing facility.
It has also pledged to continue its community commitments, setting aside more than £100,000 for a grant scheme which local organisations can apply to for cash.
Deputy council deputy leader Cllr Ferris Cowper said: “We have looked at how councils are traditionally funded and taken a completely different approach to suit today’s challenges.
“I am extremely proud that we have cut council tax and I am enormously grateful for all the hard work and dedication my colleagues have shown to enable us to do this.
“I can’t wait to find more innovative ways to ensure that we can achieve financial independence from government.”