Cash-strapped Woking council mulls more savings

The council declared itself effectively bankrupt in June 2023

Proposals to cease subsidising the local arts centre and increasing parking charges are being considered by a cash-strapped council.

Woking Borough Council is also considering introducing a one off charge for garden waste bins, according to a a report at an executive committee on Thursday.

The council effectively declared itself bankrupt in June 2023 and has been working with commissioners to improve its financial position.

The authority said is looking at a "wide variety" of possible savings measures.

Among the proposals in the draft medium-term financial strategy for between next year and 2029 is the withdrawal of a £150,000 subsidy of the Lightbox Gallery and Museum.

In the last year, the venue was allocated £130,000 as part of the government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund to help it remain open to audiences.

The Lightbox in Woking is an arts centre and hub run as an independent charity

Another suggestion is a rise in fees and charges at the Victoria Way Town Centre Car Park, with papers noting "daily tariffs were last raised in February 2023, so an inflationary increase is due".

Other parking fees and charges across the borough could also be reviewed.

The report also raised the possibility of introducing a one-off £30 charge for new and replacement bins for residents who have a garden waste subscription to recover costs.

Woking is currently making £8m of savings in this financial year, including closing public toilets, ending funding for day care projects and increasing prices at Pool in the Park.

The local authority's director of finance will decide on final recommendations about what savings to make in the coming months before councillors vote on the budget next year.

A council spokesperson said the executive meeting "was an opportunity to discuss and debate a wide variety of savings proposals ahead of setting our budgets in February next year".