Residents to pay £56 for garden waste collections

More than 18,000 people responded to a consultation on plans to charge for garden waste collections

Shropshire Council is set to introduce an annual garden waste collection fee - at a higher level than previously planned.

A charge of £56 is being recommended, £4 more than the initial proposal.

The council has said it can no longer afford to provide the service for free as it attempts to save £62.5m from its budget this financial year.

It is among a series of revenue-raising and cost-cutting measures, in addition to job losses, which will be discussed by the authority's cabinet next week.

Shropshire Council said the new charge would generate £4m a year if 70% of households signed up.

The council has also said that all five household recycling centres are set to remain open, but will close one day a week to save money.

Initial plans included closing two unspecified sites.

A booking system is being introduced, which the council says will save £200,000 a year.

Residents will have to book a slot online or by telephone to drop off waste.

The council said it will reduce queues at busy times.

Councillor Ian Nellins said the council must look at ways to create income

“Some 80% of English councils already charge for garden waste collections, and many have been doing so for several years," said Ian Nellins, deputy leader of Conservative-run Shropshire Council.

"We are facing unprecedented financial pressure... We must look at other ways of creating income so that we can protect essential front line services," he added.

CCTV cuts and temporary housing

Council leaders at next week's cabinet meeting will also discuss the future of the CCTV network in Shrewsbury town centre.

It is currently operated by nine members of staff and monitored around the clock.

But the council wants to move to "reactive monitoring" where the 39 cameras continue recording but the service is no longer staffed.

A report suggests it could save £330,000 a year.

Shropshire Council's portfolio holder for culture and digital, Robert Macey, rejected claims that it could make the town more unsafe.

"We're going to continue our 24/7 coverage so the footage is available to the police," he said.

"There are plenty of out provisions in the town to keep people safe, such as the rangers scheme, Shopwatch and Pubwatch."

The Tannery East building was purpose built for student accommodation

Another item on the cabinet's agenda is the re-purposing of a student accommodation block into housing for homeless people.

The building, which has 61 single occupancy rooms on Barker Street, would be used for people recently evicted from their homes or victims of domestic violence.

Around 100 people are housed in bed and breakfast premises at any given time in Shropshire, costing the council £6,125 a night or £2.5m a year.

Liberal Democrat councillor Alex Wagner raised concerns about its location.

"It's by the nightclubs, which by nature attract a bit of trouble," he said.

"I think it provides a risk for vulnerable people placed there, so it could be a recipe for disaster."

The council said it would provide a better service and reduce the number of people placed in bed and breakfast accommodation.

The council has already given University Centre Shrewsbury, for whose students the block was built, notice to quit the nearby Guildhall building.