North West Leicestershire District Council is facing a possible shortfall of almost £4million over the next four years.

From its total £18.7 million budget, the council says it is predicting a £1.6 million shortfall in 2024/25, which could rise to £3.9 million in 2027/8.

In a statement issued last night (Tuesday) the council explained it is now working across all its services to ensure they are run in the most cost-effective and efficient way, as well as considering ways to increase its income and reduce its costs.

A focus on regeneration across the district, improvements in private and council housing and a commitment to living within its means have been included in a key document approved by the district council this week.

The Council Delivery Plan sets out what NWLDC will prioritise over the next four years to 2028 and was approved at Council last night (Tuesday).

 Highlights from the plan include:

• Two regeneration frameworks - one focussed on Coalville to continue ongoing work to support the town, and one reaching out into the towns and villages across the district
• A review of waste collections to improve recycling rates to at least 52 per cent by 2028
• Improvements to the council house repairs service
• A Private Sector Housing Charter to set out expectations of landlords and tenants
• High standard of design in new developments with a new local design guide
• Adopting a new Local Plan by 2026
• A new planning enforcement plan to manage unauthorised developments
• Making sure 85 per cent of food businesses have the highest food hygiene rating by 2028
• Being a carbon-neutral council by 2030
• Increasing the biodiversity of the district with a 10 per cent net gain on all developments.

The statement emphasises that this is in addition to the 'every day' work that the council does.

It adds: "With a likely reduction in funding from business rates and the cost of providing services going up due to inflation, NWLDC is expecting a gap in its budget from 2024.

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"The authority currently has healthy capital reserves, following years of good financial management and high income from business rates and planning fees.

"This one-off money can be used to deliver key investments in the district whilst the council makes reductions in its ongoing spend." 

Cllr Richard Blunt, Leader of NWLDC, said: "Our budgets have the same pressures that councils up and down the country are facing.

"It's costing more to provide our services at a time when people need them most.

"We're lucky to be in a strong financial position, so we're taking time to look at our services, our systems and our processes to make sure everything is as efficient and streamlined as it can be, whilst making sure we're providing the right services for people in the best possible way.

"Our Council Delivery Plan is ambitious and demonstrates that we're committed to investing in the right places – housing, jobs, communities and the environment – whilst also making sure we're doing the right thing with public money."