Charges set to rise across Westmorland and Furness as council faces £12m funding shortfall
Council proposes increases to Council Tax, garden waste collections, and car park fees
According to the Westmorland and Furness Council's Cabinet, the proposed adjustments include a 4.99% rise in Council Tax and new charges for garden waste collections.
These recommendations are part of the 2026/27 Budget report presented by Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Andrew Jarvis, who voiced concern over the financial strain induced by the reduction in government funding.
Cllr Jarvis said, "It’s a total disgrace that as a result of a significant reduction in our funding from Government that we have had no choice but to recommend the implementation of increased charges."
The council has identified a £12 million shortfall for the next year, escalating to £43 million by 2028/29, partly due to a decrease in government support by about one-third over the funding cycle.
Despite extensive lobbying, including from the County Councils Network, Westmorland and Furness's funding position showed no substantial change following the government's announcement.
To address the financial pressures, the cabinet also recommends an annual £60 charge per garden waste bin collected—this would apply to all collections, including the first bin, which was previously free.
Additionally, car park charges will see a 10% increase alongside adjustments to the charges for using Windermere Ferry and the removal of the ‘Blue Badge’ exemption.
Other fees and charges are set to rise in alignment with inflation.
These changes will be considered at the Full Council meeting scheduled for 26th February, illustrating the council's efforts to balance its budget amidst these funding challenges.
Cllr Jarvis emphasised the difficulty of proposing such changes under financial distress: "The position we are in arises not of our own doing, but because of decisions by Government to drastically cut our funding to the detriment of our residents."