August 2023

5 Buckden Roundabout August 2023 From your District Councillor From your District Councillor Garden Waste Subscription Service You may already be aware of the news regarding the proposed Garden Waste Subscription Service, as mentioned in my previ- ous report from March. This service is being considered as a replacement for the current non - chargeable Green Bin service. The proposal has undergone review by the Overview and Scru- tiny Committee and will shortly be presented to Cabinet at HDC (Huntingdonshire District Council). I begin this month's report with a question: "Why would a new administration introduce a Garden Waste Subscription Service, which is likely to be deeply unpopular with some residents?" The answer is sim- ple: "To protect the finances of the District Council in the medium term." While I acknowledge that imple- menting a chargeable service may not be well - received by many residents, it is crucial to address the potential £9.7m deficit that poses a threat to the Medium - Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). It's important to note that this risk does not account for the fu- ture impact of inflation, higher energy costs, and staff pay rises exceeding 2%. Without the chargeable green waste service there would be an immediate £1.4m gap in the finances. As Councillors, we sometimes have to make difficult and un- popular decisions that may not be welcomed by residents in the short term. However, these decisions are necessary to safeguard valued services in the future. Despite numerous and understandable complaints during the recent Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting, no viable alternative to stabilise the finances was proposed. The Conservative opposition's suggestion was to disregard the warnings of our finance officer and adopt a wait - and - see ap- proach. My view is that that this would be a ‘ gambler ’ s option ’. Too many Councils around us have failed by not taking the nec- essary hard decisions. Extensive analysis has determined that charging for garden waste is the only viable solution to bridge the financial gap and protect our essential frontline services. Waste and recycling account for the Council's most significant expenses. Providing the garden waste collection service to all Huntingdonshire properties incurs a minimum annual cost of £800,000 in direct- ly attributable variable expenses for HDC. Consequently, the decision we face primarily revolves around either completely discontinuing the service or implementing a subscription - based system that ensures continuity of garden waste services for residents who choose to use it. It is likely that, similar to over 65% of other English Councils, the Cabinet will favour the latter option. The proposed cost for a Green Bin subscription is currently set at £57.50 per year or £1.11 per week, which is below the average charged by other Councils in the region. The table below illustrates how the new administration has had to make difficult decisions due to the underfunding inherit- ed from the previous administration: Note that our neighbouring Fenland District Council, which also charges for Garden Waste Collection, raises an additional £6.5m in revenue compared to HDC. This translates to a weekly cost of £4.91 for a Fenland Band D Council Tax payer, com- pared to the £3.00 per week paid by the HDC equivalent. I highlight these weekly costs to emphasize the tremendous value for money that residents receive from each council for such a modest weekly charge. As for the past administration's policy of maintaining low council tax and refraining from utilis- ing the capped 2.99% increase, despite it being financially fea- sible, I leave it to the residents to assess whether it was a pru- dent decision. Naturally, residents and Parish Councillors may have several inquiries, and I assure you that I will do my best to address them if the proposal receives approval at the Cabinet. Further- more, if the proposal progresses, there will be ample opportu- nities to contribute and influence the service's implementation before it goes live in April 2024. Wishing you well, Martin Martin Hassall District Councillor for Buckden, Diddington and Southoe Executive Councillor for Corporate & Shared Services - Phone: 07480 798 342