Sandwell Council Approves Tax Rise and Bin Collection Changes

Budget approved with higher taxes, rent, fees. Expect fortnightly bin collections and service cuts.

Sandwell Council Approves Tax Rise and Bin Collection Changes
Sandwell Council Approves Tax Rise and Bin Collection Changes

Sandwell Council approved a budget for 2025/6. It totals £365 million. Bin collections will change to every two weeks, and tax, rent, and fees are also going up.

The council faces a £20 million budget shortfall and needs to make cuts to balance things. Council tax will rise by 4.99%, with two percent of this increase helping adult social care.

Most households will pay £58 to £68 more, and average homes will pay almost £87 extra annually. The council says it’s making careful financial choices.

Switching to fortnightly bins will save £2.6 million. About 35 jobs could be lost due to this change, and staff cuts could save over £1 million. Thirteen fewer bin lorries will be used.

Conservative councillors disagree with the bin plan. However, they offered no alternative budget ideas and abstained from voting on the changes. A Labour councillor criticized their lack of input, saying they avoided responsibility.

An independent councillor blamed government cuts and said Labour also failed to fix the damage. He called rising costs a betrayal.

Many council service fees increased this January. Weddings and funerals now cost more, and garden waste collection went up to £40.

Council house rent will rise by 2.7% in April. Tenants will pay £120 to £150 more per year. A rent increase occurred last year as well as flat rent increasing about £127

Rents already rose £300 to £400 in 2023. The council also plans facility closures for savings. Hadley Stadium might close, and Harry Mitchell Leisure Centre may also close. Tipton Sports Academy could see changes too.

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