HBC UNANIMOUSLY APPROVES LABOUR 18/19 BUDGET

Hyndburn Councillors from all parties last night unanimously approved a Labour budget which will see £400,000 invested to improve waste services, a further £1.2 million investment in Accrington Town Centre, £1.7 million invested in housing regeneration and £828,000 to improve homes for people with a disability.

Council Leader, Councillor Miles Parkinson, said; “Setting the budget for 2018/19 has been the hardest challenge we’ve faced since taking control of the Council in May 2011. It’s thanks to years of successful financial management that we’ve avoided the maximum tax rise available, instead raising the Hyndburn Council share of Council Tax by 2.1%, which is below the rate of inflation and substantially below the rate of increase of many other Councils across the country.”

“Across all public sector organisations currently there is a huge challenge to do more for less, this year’s budget for Hyndburn has required us to look right across the whole of the organisation to ensure we are doing everything we can to deliver the right services for our residents in a way that delivers value for money.”

At the meeting, Councillors agreed plans to invest £400,000 to improve waste services, including the rollout of new wheelie bins to replace the bags and boxes currently used for recycling collection.

Cllr Parkinson said; “Our Government funding is set to reduce drastically at a crucial time when our waste and recycling service needs investment to make recycling easier for residents and to maintain effective recycling levels in the Borough. Raising Council Tax by £5 for a Band D property, which is less than 10p a week, will allow us to manage the impact of the Government cuts to our funding and to replace the current white sack and blue box system with two new wheelie bins for each household instead during 2018.”

Cllr Parkinson added; “This means that we will all be able to recycle much more efficiently and our streets will be cleaner, as the rubbish that sometimes drops from the boxes and the sacks on collection day will be contained within the wheelie bins, which are much easier to handle.”

Cllr Parkinson concluded; “Despite the difficulties over recent years caused by further reductions in our funding from government, the Council has continued to maintain its finances and provide value for money services. We’re pleased then to approve this budget will see £400,000 invested to improve waste services, a further £1.2 million investment in Accrington Town Centre, £1.7 million invested in housing regeneration and £828,000 to improve homes for people with a disability in the Borough.”