Pendle News Room

Leader of Pendle Council, Councillor Mohammed Iqbal said:

“We have followed Government guidance and kept our Council Tax increase as low as possible whilst protecting and improving vital frontline services which matter to Pendle people.

“For the last three years Pendle’s Council Tax has increased by 2.99% but this year the increase is 1%  less at 1.99%.

Key decisions made at Budget Council included:

• Making no charges for replacing wheelie bins from 1 March
   
• A return to free bulky household waste collections from 1 March
   
• No cuts in the budget for street sweeping across Pendle
   
• A new £100,000 pot to take urgent action in Pendle to tackle global warming and the effects of climate change
   
• £15,000 to spend over two years on tree planting as part of the Ribble Rivers Trust Woodland Connect Campaign and linking to our climate change pledge

• No increases in cemetery charges at the six cemeteries which Pendle Council manages.
   

Leader of the Council, Councillor Mohammed Iqbal said:

“People have been unhappy about paying nearly £25 for a replacement bin,  so we will now provide them for free.

“We’ve also decided to re-instate the free bulky household waste collections we had over two years ago.

“This will help local people dispose of bulky items like old sofas and freezers in a bid to protect the environment and reduce fly tipping in Pendle,” he explained.

“And we know that keeping the streets clean is one of the top priorities for local people, so there will be no cut-backs to this valued service.”

Councillors also showed their commitment to putting plans into action to tackle climate change locally, following the Climate Emergency declared at the Full Council meeting in July 2019.

“Pendle Council will be working with local communities, businesses, organisations and schools on climate action schemes, supported by the new budget for this,” explained Councillor Iqbal.

The Council also agreed to sustain funding for the Pendle Leisure Trust provide important fitness, sport and healthy lifestyle facilities and services.

Councillor Iqbal said:

“We are working with Pendle Leisure Trust and other partners on strategies to improve the well-being of people in Pendle for a more active community .

Councillor Iqbal added:

“We have agreed a budget which puts local people first.

“This is an achievement given the financial challenges we still face!

“Over the next three years Pendle Council has to make substantial savings.

“We are on course to make these savings by offering some of our services commercially, such as bespoke food safety advice for food businesses.

“And we are reducing our staffing costs by not filling vacant posts.

“Our programme of transferring parks and open spaces to local town and parish councils is continuing as we no longer have the funds to manage them all.

“Pendle Council’s aim is to protect these important spaces for local people as future funding from central government to us is uncertain.

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