Charnwood Borough Council approves its 2025/26 budget, leading to a council tax increase and higher garden waste pickup fees.
Band D homes pay £149.43 yearly, £5 more than last year. This cost is only for the borough council. Residents also pay for county, police, and fire services.
Conservatives wanted to change the budget. They aimed to stop the £5 garden waste fee increase and sought to cut spending by £268,000 too.
The ‘brown bin’ collection would cost £55 yearly. Labour and Green parties plan to use reserves, while Conservatives wanted to reduce reserve spending.
Paul Baines criticized the brown bin increase, calling it “regressive” due to high living costs. He stated Labour promised to freeze collection charges.
Simon Jackson talked about financial implications. He said the brown bin fee gives £165,000 to the budget; rejecting it needs £433,000 from reserves.
Deborah Taylor claimed fewer people could afford garden bins. Residents may use normal waste bins instead, and Mark Charles said pledges should get kept.
Jewel Miah defended the budget, saying it’s larger than the points in contention. He reminded others of a previous budget situation, claiming brown bin fees rose under the Conservatives.
Ian Ashcroft supports inflation-linked fee increases to prevent large, future adjustments. Using reserves is acceptable currently, he stated, as the council has strong finances and a large working balance.
Andy Haynes criticized the proposed savings, asking how to make them. He questioned service cuts and job losses from the move, saying this would hurt poorer residents the most.
The Conservative motion failed with twenty votes for and twenty-five against. The budget passed with 25 votes, while twenty councillors abstained.