Have your say on council’s environmental service

Published Tuesday 21 July 2015

Residents have until mid-August to share their views on the future of bin collections, recycling, street cleaning and grounds maintenance in the Harborough district.

No decisions have been made by Harborough District Council on how the service may operate in the future. A consultation is currently underway with residents to seek their views on possible options for the future delivery of the service.

The district council is facing financial challenges due to decreasing income from recycling compared to previous years, and is reviewing the cost of its environmental contract.

The council says it wants to maintain a high quality service for residents, whilst reducing costs and running the service more efficiently. However, if this is going to be achieved, the way the service is delivered “will need to change”. 

Cllr Phil King, Harborough District Council’s deputy leader, said: “It is important we maintain a high-quality service for our residents, although with this contract being one of the council’s biggest outgoings, in terms of costs, this puts mounting pressures on our budget. If costs are to be reduced, how the service is currently provided will need to change. It is important to understand that at this point in time no decisions have been made about how the service could be delivered in the future.” 

A questionnaire, with options for how the council could operate the service in the future, has been sent to every home in the district and should be returned to the council by 15 August 2015. The survey can be completed online at www.harborough.gov.uk/ECconsultation

The questionnaire can also be completed on computers provided in the foyer of The Symington Building in Adam and Eve Street, Market Harborough.  

Originally the consultation was due to end on 1 August 2015, but it has been extended to 15th August 2015 to allow more time for residents to share their views.