Council seeking tip closure as part of £30m savings plan

The closure of a tip, a review of library services, and potential changes to some adult social care services are among the measures proposed by a Cheshire council in its bid to save more than £30m.

Warrington Borough Council said determining its current budget had been "more difficult this year than any year in living memory".

The authority will sign off the budget at a meeting later this month

As part of the council's savings proposals, it is planning to shut the tip in Stockton Heath - one of the borough's three recycling centres.

The council has set out a number of areas where it plans to make savings.

Some of the largest savings planned will come from reviewing council-owned commercial property, as well as making savings on loans and investments.

It is also planning to review its care packages for adults, and to insource placements for children in care.

It is also planning a number of savings in its environment and transport department.

These include the closure of the Stockton Heath Community Recycling Centre, reducing street bin numbers and a previously announced proposal to bring in car parking charges in some areas of the borough.

Warrington Borough Council said it was planning a 4.98% council tax increase for 2025/26, and increases of 1.98% for each of the following three years.

In a document to its Cabinet, officers said the forthcoming year budget has required them to "focus on the detail of what we can still afford to do".

"We have again prioritised the demands being placed on services for our most vulnerable residents, and whilst additional funding for social care is welcomed, the demand for services still far exceeds our funding", the report said.

The report will be discussed by councillors at a meeting next week, on Monday 10 February, before the final budget is discussed at a full council meeting on 24 February.

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