Have your say on the district’s budget proposals for 2026/27

Like all authorities, Harborough district faces significant financial challenges, including rising demand for services, high inflation rates and changes to government funding.

However, the council wants to continue to deliver investment and improvements needed for the success of the district and its communities long into the future.

The proposed draft budget has been modelled over three years factoring in the local government reorganisation process where it is expected a new unitary authority will be in place from April 2028.

The 2026/27 budget is balanced though the following two years do require funding. This is achieved by using the council’s financial sustainability reserve.

Because of these reserves and the council’s careful and prudent management of its finances, the administration proposes to reduce Harborough District Council’s share of Council Tax by 5%, equivalent to £9.16 a year for a Band D property.

The council is also proposing to:

• Freeze car park charges for the third year running and offer three free shopping Saturdays in December
• Freeze green bin charges at £61 for the third-year running
• Improve customer access to information and self-serve options by re-opening a service on the ground floor of The Symington Building
• Extend the £1 million Community Grant Fund into a fourth year ensuring all parishes in the district benefit
• Invest in its environmental services to tackle fly-tipping including increasing fly-tipping enforcement penalties from £400 to £1,000
• Create a new community events arena from the current Welland Park bowls rink and refurbish the Welland Park Bowls Pavillion and Wadkins Pavillion in Thurnby for increased community use
• Develop feasibility plans for improvements to The Symington Recreation Ground
• Increase project support to accelerate the Rewilding Harborough project and volunteer/community involvement
• Seek to ensure that the special expenses policy is implemented and surplus and deficits are accounted for properly meaning services are protected for parish residents in the future
• And much more.

This draft budget aims to give back to communities, put things in order and invest in communities.

Other notable proposals include investment in economic development projects, the introduction of the national weekly food waste collection service from November and improvements to CCTV service.

Cllr Jim Knight, Harborough District Council’s Cabinet lead for Finance Services, said: "I am pleased that this draft budget demonstrates our commitment to stability, investment and delivering real value for our residents. Despite financial pressures, we have been able to protect key services, support our communities and plan responsibly for the years ahead. I encourage everyone to take part in the consultation and share their views.”

Cllr Phil Knowles, Leader of Harborough District Council, said: “This is a clear demonstration of our commitment and investment in our communities across the whole of the district, and builds upon the five pillars which have been built into our overall corporate plan.”

On 19 January 2026, Harborough District Council’s Cabinet considered the Draft Budget 2026/27 and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (2027/28 to 2028/29) and agreed that it should move to consultation.

On 9 February 2026, Cabinet will agree its formal recommendations on the proposed budget to Council for consideration on 23 February 2026.

In the meantime, you can have your say on the proposals at: www.harborough.gov.uk/consultation until 9am on 6 February 2026.