BUDGET proposals from Wyre Forest District Council could see car parking charges frozen and extra investment in litter-picking and tackling illegal parking.
The council’s cabinet will discuss the proposals at its next meeting tomorrow (Tuesday, November 11).
More resources could also be ploughed into tackling environment issues, such as fly-tipping and dog-foulung.
The cabinet will be considering spending priorities for the draft Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2026 to 2029.
The budget proposals are to help the authority deliver its ambitions which are ‘economic growth and regeneration’, ‘a clean, safe and green district’ and ‘securing financial sustainability for services that local communities value’.
The proposals also include increasing the district council’s portion of council tax by three per cent.
This would mean an additional £7.51 for the year or 14p-a week for band D properties. The majority of householders in the district would pay less than this because almost three quarters of homes in Wyre Forest are in bands A to C.
Coun David Ross, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Finance and Capital Portfolio, said: “We have a legal requirement to balance the council’s budget each year and the pressures on us to deliver services are growing.
“As part of the medium term financial strategy, we are focusing on finding savings and efficiencies.
“We plan to carry out more reviews of how services are delivered and procured. We will not get the full picture about our 2026-27 funding from Government until the settlement is announced in December.”
Coun Marcus Hart, Wyre Forest District Council leader, said: “We have made excellent progress with our corporate plan priorities and despite the funding pressure we are still proposing to invest to meet our aims.
“We are considering actions like freezing parking charges to support our town centres, local businesses, and the residents who depend on these facilities.
“We are also looking at providing additional funding for litter picking, tackling fly-tipping and supporting cultural events – things residents have told us are important to them.
“We would like residents to take part in our consultation to help shape the proposals further.”
The meeting starts at 6pm on Tuesday, November 11, and can be viewed here on the council’s website.
A public consultation on the cabinet’s spending proposals is due to be launched later in the month and run for six weeks.
People can visit: wyreforestdc.gov.uk/consultations to view it and comment.
