Harborough District Council’s ruling coalition has suffered a setback after councillors refused to approve its full budget proposals.
Amendments from the Conservative opposition — supported by independent and Reform UK members — were passed by 18 votes to 16.
The changes include pausing further investment in the council’s re-wilding project, a new £500,000 hospitality business support scheme, extra funding to tackle fly-tipping, a cut in bulky waste collection charges from £50 to £10, and more funding for disabled children’s play equipment.
A planned 5% cut in the council’s share of council tax, tabled by the administration, was approved as part of the budget and will save a Band D household just over £9 a year.
Cllr Phil King tabled the amendments at last night’s meeting
The ruling coalition reacted angrily after key parts of their proposals were blocked, with council leader Phil Knowles branding it a ‘wrecking ball move’.
However, the Conservative group say its changes are designed to keep the council financially sustainable while delivering visible improvements for residents.
Conservative finance spokesman Phil King says the changes will directly benefit residents:
Amendments approved were:
Spending cuts or delays: reducing CCTV funding until a feasibility study is complete, removing funding for a rewilding post and capital programme until a business case is approved, and scrapping several proposed new staff roles.
Cleaner environment measures: extra funding for fly-tipping enforcement (£50k), street cleansing (£35k), and buying an additional mechanical road sweeper.
Cheaper bulky waste collections: reducing charges from £50 to £10 to discourage illegal dumping.
Business support: repurposing £500k previously earmarked for leisure diversification into grants for hospitality businesses (between £5k and £20k each).
Neighbourhood investment: more funding for neighbourhood planning and a larger ward councillor community grant pot by merging a community grant scheme into ward member grants.
Flooding funding changes: reallocating part of the budget to investigation work rather than direct spending.
Overall, the amendments create revenue savings of about £209,000 and reduce the capital programme by roughly £376,000.
Original budget plans including freezing car park charges and green waste collections for the third year running were approved, along with funding to create a new community events arena in Welland Park and to upgrade public toilets in Market Harborough and Little Bowden.
Cllr Jim Knight, cabinet lead for finance, spoke of his anger after the amendments were approved:
