A Welsh council has announced plans for widespread cost-saving measures in its next budget including proposals for monthly bin collections and closure of all play areas with equipment. Under the plans, residents in Blaenau Gwent will see black bin bag collections move to a four-weekly occurrence, while 60 static children's play areas, 12 multi-use game areas (football courts for example) and 10 wheeled sports facilities (such as skate parks) could also close.
It comes as Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council faces a £6.7m funding gap from the 2023/24 budget. The authority is asking residents where it should prioritise its spending. In December 2022, the Welsh Government announced its provisional local government settlement. It showed that Blaenau Gwent's 6.5% increase was the smallest in Wales and below the average of 7.9%. However, it will see the council's funding raise from this year's £131.57m raise to £139.597m next year.
In the online questionnaire, the council said it is facing a range of financial pressures which has resulted in a significant funding gap. In an effort to save money, the council has put together a proposal of ideas to address the shortfall, which is likely to change services and see an increase in council tax. The council has divided its proposals into three categories: commercial activity and business development, service change for efficiency, future business and service opportunities.
Council tax
One change the council is proposing is an increase of council tax for residents, which covers 22% of the overall budget. As it stands, Blaenau Gwent residents pay one of the lowest average amounts of council tax in Wales, as the majority of properties are in band A and B. The council is proposing to increase council tax by 4%, which would be an increase around £1.13 per week.
Commercial activity and business development
The council has proposed new house growth plans, developing wind turbines and solar farms, and industrial expansion. This includes developing the trade waste service for a potential income of £64k to hiring rooms in the general office for an additional income of £60k. This section also includes looking at a project for a solar farm and wind turbines in Tredegar, develop a plan for the old Nantyglo Secondary School, redevelopment of Ebbw Vale Police Station to support the regeneration of the town centre and more.
Frontline services
The proposal suggests increasing the number of residents at Cwrt Mytton to increase income, or another option is to outsource or close the care home and place residents into other private sector provisions. The council will also look at externalising home care services, focus on digital support, implement charges to use the Hydrotherapy Pool in Bert Denning.
Education, schools and leisure
There are also proposed plans to reduce funding to individual schools with potential saving of £252,000 and remove the school crossing patrol service to potentially save £177,840. The council also suggests a reduction or stopping services at Aneurin Leisure Trust to potentially save £92k, review the funding arrangements between schools and LEA to save £120k, and look at the funding for home to school transport.
Environmental services and transport
Proposals are in place to close all play areas with play equipment to potentially save £50k. In addition to this, the council is also suggesting proposals to reduce street cleansing provisions, review operating hours of household waste centres, withdraw council contribution to public toilets within the town centre and reduction in street lighting.
The council also proposes to move to a four-weekly refuse collection, with savings to be determined, and a fortnightly green waste collection between March and October, to potentially save £63k. It will also look at the discontinuation of free dog waste bags and pest control treatment services.
In terms of transport, the council suggests removing its financial subsidy to bus services, potentially saving them £107,680, and closure of Mechanical Link in Ebbw Vale, which provides a direct link from The Works site to the town centre - this will primarily affect students and some rail users. The council also suggests to stop support for Armistice parades, which will potentially save £2,400.
Back office service
The council suggests reviewing services across the council which could save up to £100k. They will also look at reductions in budget for members and grants to small local organisations.
Future business and service opportunities
The council proposes collaborating with neighbouring local authorities to delivering services to the public. The council will consider introducing charges for parking in council owned car parks and review the use of operational buildings. They also plan to review placement options for learners with additional learning needs. To have your say and view the full questionnaire with the proposed plans, click here.
Leader of the Council, Councillor Steve Thomas says: “Setting this year’s Budget is not an easy task, and it’s important we get out and engage with people in our communities so that we can explain in more detail the scale of the challenge and the difficult decisions we are facing.
“We also want to ask them for their views on priorities and ideas for council spending.” The council’s final budget will be decided by councillors later in February. For all the latest Blaenau Gwent news sign up to our newsletter here.
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