Blaby District Council is asking locals to choose between tax increases or cutting services due to funding issues
Leicestershire: So, here’s the scoop. Blaby District Council is putting a tough choice on the table for residents. They’re saying it’s either tax hikes or cutting back on some services. They need to figure out how to keep things running without any extra cash from the government.
They’ve kicked off a consultation to get feedback from locals. The council is looking at reducing what they call “non-essential services” because they’re not sure how much funding they’ll get in the future. It’s a bit of a mess with all the financial changes coming from the government.
Now, council tax covers a lot of important stuff like education, waste collection, and social care. But there are also some services that aren’t deemed essential, like children’s centers and garden waste collection. Those are the ones that might get the chop.
Some residents are not too happy about this whole situation. One person pointed out that everyone is struggling financially, so why should they have to choose? Another asked for clarity on what “non-essential” really means before they can even make a decision.
The council explained that just like our own bills, the cost of providing services is going up. They’re facing more demand as the area grows, but they’re not getting any extra help from the government. They rely heavily on council tax, which makes up a big chunk of their budget.
They’re suggesting a 2.99% increase in council tax, which is about 11p a week for a Band D property. They say this is crucial for keeping services running. The council is also trying to save money wherever they can to lessen the blow for residents.
In the consultation, they’re asking if people would rather freeze the tax and cut services, raise it by 11p a week, or if they’re just unsure. The consultation is open until late February, so folks have some time to weigh in.
