West Northamptonshire Council Proposes Tax Hike and New Parking Charges in Draft Budget

New parking charges and an increase to fees for garden waste collections are among West Northamptonshire Council’s draft budget proposals for the 2025-26 financial year. The council, which announced in October that it was facing a £72 million shortfall by 2026, is also suggesting a 4.99% rise in council tax as part of its £933.8 million budget plan for 2025-26. Parking fees could be implemented at Sixfields Reservoir, the Racecourse, and the Claret Car Park on Edgar Mobbs Way. Additionally, the annual subscription fee for garden waste collection is projected to increase from £58 to £60. The Conservative-controlled council is scheduled to convene on Tuesday to deliberate on the draft budget before initiating a six-week public consultation period. The final budget will then be presented to the full council in February. The proposed council tax increase would result in an average weekly rise of £1.71 for a band D property. Under the proposals, parking at Sixfields Reservoir, located near Northampton Town’s Sixfields Stadium, will be charged at £1 per hour, increasing to £6 on matchdays. The Claret Car Park, which serves as a park-and-ride facility for visitors to the University of Northampton, will cost £2 per day. A £7.50 “event day charge” will also be applied due to its proximity to both Sixfields Stadium and Northampton Saints’ Franklin’s Gardens. The Racecourse car park, accessible via Kettering Road, will be priced at £1 per hour for up to a maximum of four hours. Stays exceeding this duration will incur a charge of £5 for every subsequent hour. An overnight charge of £2 will be in effect between 18:00 and 10:00 GMT. The council indicated that these measures, alongside its broader program of fees and charges, are expected to generate approximately £28.5 million. Malcolm Longley, the council’s cabinet member for finance, stated that the process of setting the draft budget had been “both challenging and complex”. He added that “the needs of residents remain at the forefront” of the council’s decisions and actions.