Residents in one Leicestershire area could see their council tax and other fees rise from April. A 2.5 per cent increase is proposed for the North West Leicestershire District Council (NWLDC) share of council tax for those living there.
This would be a hike of £4.07 compared to current rates for those in Band D properties. However, county residents do not just pay council tax to their district or borough council, but to Leicestershire Council Council, the police and fire services and, in some cases, to their parish or town council also. This means residents in NWL can expect to see their total costs increase by more overall.
Fees for some services are also proposed to go up. This includes £1 more a year for people with more than one garden waste bin who pay for extra collections. Businesses would also pay between 10p and 40p more per collection to have their waste removed.
READ MORE: Leicestershire residents to be hit by maximum council tax rise but ‘definitely’ no service cuts
The cost of hiring out council sports pitches is also expected to increase by £1. However, the price to hire a stall at Newmarket or Marlborough Square is anticipated to stay the same.
NWLDC has said it needs to increase these costs as part of work to “close a growing funding gap”. The authority can present a balanced budget for the coming 2025/26 financial year, something it is legally bound to do, but added it expects to see a gap between income and outgoings from the 2026/27 financial year.
This gap would start at around £411,000, but is expected to grow to £3.5 million by 2029/30. The authority has said it is facing a number of cost pressures, including continued increases in demand on its homelessness services, having to fill staff vacancies with more expensive agency costs and higher pay awards for its own employees.
In order to respond to these growing pressures, the council said it will be looking at ways to provide services at a reduced cost and more efficiently, as well as ways to increase income. Addressing recruitment issues, particularly in its finance and planning departments, will also be “crucial”, NWLDC added.
A number of big projects are also allocated funding by the authority in the upcoming budget. These include the rollout of food waste collections across the district, the ongoing Marlborough Square regeneration plans, and the creation of a new public space at Stenson Square.
The council wants to make Stenson Square a new ‘attractive’ public area
(Image: NWLDC/Corstorphine & Wright)
District residents are now being invited to have their say on budget proposals for the upcoming financial year. A consultation is available on the NWLDC website until Sunday, January 26.
Councillor Nick Rushton, corporate portfolio holder for NWLDC, said: “The majority of councils are facing budget pressures, and NWLDC has been cushioned from some of this by various factors, including good financial management. However, we also have ongoing pressures on our services, and expect to see a gap in our budget from this year.
“It is vital, therefore, that we look to increase income in many areas, whilst working internally to improve efficiency and make savings where possible. I am confident that this balanced budget, our savings plans and our ongoing efficiency work will keep this council on a good financial footing. I’d like to encourage people to give their opinion on the budget proposals so we can consider the feedback when deciding on the final budget for the coming year.”
The 2025/26 budget is set to be considered by the authority’s cabinet on Tuesday, January 28. It would then be debated by the full council on Thursday, February 20, with elected members voting on whether it should be adopted.