New Forest District Council announces £139m three year financial plan

NEW Forest District Council has unveiled a three-year spending plan worth £139m, including housing and rolling out wheelie bins.

The capital budget for projects and initiatives until March 2026 was approved at a recent cabinet meeting.

Included is £45m for new council housing, including purchases and council-led developments, plus £28m for council housing maintenance.

A further £22m has been allocated for commercial and residential property.

NFDC will also spend £7m on a new depot at Hardley, plus £11m on updated vehicles and £5m on containers for the new waste strategy to replace sacks with wheelie bins.

As reported in the A&T, the controversial bins scheme has been pushed back a year to 2025.

The district council confirmed the change, aimed at increasing recycling rates, was delayed due to new sorting facilities provided by Hampshire County Council not being ready in time.

Coastal protection schemes has a budget of £7m, funded by the Environment Agency.

The council’s cabinet member for finance, investment and corporate services, Cllr Jeremy Heron, said: “This financial planning aims to protect and maintain the crucial services we provide for residents.”

He said it would also “create efficiency, savings and enable income generation to safeguard important services and assets across the district, for now and into the long term”.

In addition to the £139m, a further £92,000 has been set aside for grants in 2023/24 for local groups providing essential community services.