Opportunities to tell councillors what you think of planned spending cuts – including dimmed streetlights and fewer litter bins – are set to start from next week.

Bracknell Forest councillors will be hosting drop-in sessions at libraries and community centres across the borough throughout January to hear residents’ views. The sessions are part of a consultation on the council’s proposed spending plans next year.

Council leader Mary Temperton said she wants residents’ feedback to shape the final budget plans. She said: “We want to hear what residents think about the draft budget plans, and we really hope that many of you will come and speak to us at these drop-in sessions.

“We want to make ourselves available so we can listen to concerns and answer any questions residents may have. By listening to their feedback, it will help us to refine the budget before it is agreed in February.”

READ MORE: Bracknell bins cut and streetlights dimmed in cost-cutting plans

Bracknell Forest Council revealed earlier in December that it plans to make streetlights 10 per cent dimmer and cut the number of public litter bins by half as part of cost-saving measures.

The plans are included in proposals for the council’s day-to-day spending for the next financial year, which runs from April 2024 to April 2025.

Speaking earlier in December councillor Kathryn Neil, responsible for finance, said the council had ‘hard choices to make’ as it strives to make its funding cover rising costs.

Proposals suggested by Bracknell Forest Council include getting rid of between 450 and 500 council litter bins out of 900 across the borough. Council finance chiefs say this could save some £30,000 in coming years.

Proposals even say that street lights will be 10 per cent dimmer than they are now – a reduction that the council says could save £55,000 next year.

The council also proposes to end its home library service. This is part of plans to merge libraries with its customer services, which it says could save £206,000 over two years.

Separately, the council plans to spend more than £3 million on road repairs. This will be funded from its capital budget, which pays for infrastructure and is separate to the money used for day-to-day spending.

Full information on the council’s spending plans are available on the council’s website. The times, dates and locations of the drop-in sessions are:

  • Thursday, 4 January at Sandhurst Library, 11am
  • Friday, 5 January at Great Hollands Library, 11am
  • Tuesday, 9 January at Harmans Water Library, 3pm
  • Monday, 15 January at Birch Hill Library, 2.30pm
  • Saturday, 13 January at The Foxes’ Den, Binfield, 2pm – 4pm