Weekly black bin collections could end in borough

Royal Borough: Council reveals draft budget for 2021/22

Weekly black bin collections face being axed and council tax could rise in the Royal Borough in 2021, the draft budget has revealed.

Weekly black bin collections face being axed and council tax could rise in the Royal Borough in 2021, the draft budget has revealed.

The council's draft for the 2021/22 budget, which was published yesterday (Thursday) has set out a number of proposals which aim to deliver nearly £8million in savings over the next financial year.

The paper will be discussed by cabinet on Thursday. If approved, it will go out for consultation before a final budget is presented to the council in February.

Following past financial mismanagement, and the added financial pressures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the council faces a 'significant financial challenge' heading into 2021.

According to the paper, the Royal Borough’s position is ‘more acute’ than other councils due to its low reserves.

In the proposals, weekly general waste bin collections will be axed, switching to fortnightly. The changes are expected to save

£175,000. Weekly recycling and food waste bin collections will be retained under the proposals.

A total of £800,000 is expected to be saved in children’s services. Some of the savings include removing all discretionary travel awards

and ‘simplifying’ the council’s therapy offer.

More than £2million would be saved in adult social care. These savings include developing ‘alternative options’ for supporting residents who are in need of support, and ‘maximising’ income from resident contributions.

Other proposed savings include reducing library hours, making a saving of £118,000, ‘reviewing’ the council’s rural car parks to save £100,000, and ‘reshaping’ community safety functions, including the Royal Borough’s community wardens.

In total, £7.95million savings must be made by the council next year for it to have a balanced budget. The 2020/21 budget approved this year already includes savings of £2.13million for the next financial year, and the draft for 2021/22 includes a further £5.82million saving.

Under the proposals, the council intends to raise council tax by two per cent, and raise the adult social care precept by three per cent, meaning Band D council tax would rise by £54.32, from £1077.41 to £1131.73.

However, council leader Cllr Andrew Johnson (Con, Hurley and Walthams), has previously said he is lobbying the Government to allow the council to raise council tax above the two per cent cap. As things stand, the council would need to hold a referendum to raise it any higher.

Following the a public consultation, a final budget will be presented to full council in February, where it will voted on by members.