Consultations

Residents and businesses are encouraged to have their say on the council’s draft budget proposals for 2025/26 and the council’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy (2026/27 to 2029/30). We are also consulting on the council’s draft Empty Homes Strategy & Council Tax Exemptions and Discounts as part of the budget consultation.

Budget proposals for 2025-26

Harborough District Council has set out a balanced budget which once again contains a £1 million Community Grant Fund as well as initiatives promoting healthy living and investment in a range of services and community buildings across the district.

Faced with continued inflation impacts, government cuts and an ongoing cost of living crisis, the authority has made carefully considered decisions to balance the books in 2025-26.

Thanks to sound financial management the council already has a number of income streams that will help continue to deliver vital front-line services, and the budget proposals for 2025-26 recommend further investment in these areas.

Proposals include:

• Raising council tax by 2.99% which equates to £5.32 a year for a Band D property
• No increase in garden waste bin collection charges
• No increase in car parking charges, plus keeping free parking on three Saturdays in December in the run up to Christmas
• Commitment to an annual residents’ newsletter and any special editions that may be required
• Continuation of the £1 million Community Grants Fund not just for 2025-26 but also for 2026-27 so an additional £2 million over two years
• Additional staffing resources to support priority areas of work such as planning, climate and waste, asset management, open spaces, housing, including new apprentice positions in democratic services and elections

The council also proposes to:

• Purchase a new waste fleet including 27 refuse, recycling and food waste collection vehicles; and a number of ride-on mowers, street cleansing, and other vehicles
• Purchase three temporary accommodation properties across the district to support temporary accommodation for residents in need
• Invest in 33 faster and easier to use car parking payment machines
• Allocate £20,000 into a Community Wellbeing programme for healthy lifestyle initiatives such as walks and activity sessions in local community venues

There are plans to increase solar battery provision at the Harborough Innovation Centre (HIC) in 2025-26 and increase solar and battery provision at Harborough Enterprise Centre (HEC) in 2026-27 as further contributions to meeting the council’s 2030 net zero target following the successful solar panel installation at the HIC in 2024.

There are also proposals for remediation works and investment in The Symington Building as a listed building and Market Hall contributing to reduction in carbon emissions.

The council will refurbish Wadkins Pavillion in Thurnby and Welland Park Bowls Pavillion for new community use. It also intends to start a programme of maintenance of six closed churchyards, three in 2025-26 at Bringhurst, Catthorpe and Husbands Bosworth, one in 2026-27 in Fleckney and two in 2027-28 at Leire and Skeffington.

Empty Homes Strategy, including changes to Council Tax Exemptions and Discounts

Harborough District Council is currently reviewing its Empty Homes Strategy and welcomes your views on our approach to bringing private properties back into use. The council regards empty homes as a wasted resource particularly as there is such an acute demand for affordable accommodation in the area. The council wants to improve how we work with the private housing sector to improve the availability of affordable and suitable accommodation across the district. So, whether you are a local resident, landlord, local business or owner of an empty property we would like to hear your views.

The questions are split between the general Empty Property Strategy and some specific questions around the changes to the Council Tax premiums and discounts we are considering.

• Read Harborough District Council’s budget proposals for 2025/26 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy ((2026/27 to 2029/30)
• Read Harborough District Council’s draft Empty Homes Strategy, including changes to Council Tax Exemptions and Discounts

You can comment on this consultation here until 9am on Monday 10 February 2025. 

On 10 February 2025, Cabinet will agree its formal recommendations on the proposed budget, which includes the draft Empty Homes Strategy and Council Tax Exemptions and Discounts, to Council for consideration on 24 February 2025.