A RADICAL overhaul of some of the ways council services are being provided could be on the cards.

As reported in the Beacon, 26th December, Monmouthshire County Council (MCC) has announced that consultations will be taking place to fill the gap left by Welsh Government funding and a near £6m of pay, pension and social care“pressures” placed on the council through its obligations and mandated requirements.

It is accepted that local taxation - council tax- will have to bear the burden of some of these pressures faced by MCC and the budget proposals assume a council tax rise of 5.95 per cent from next April for the 2019/20 financial year and 3.95 per cent for the remaining years of the council.

One of the areas that the council has been looking at was recycling. With four recycling centres in the county - an obligation the council voluntarily fulfils - it is likely that reduced opening times may be considered to relieve pressure but the council have been looking at ‘tourist’ recyclers; out-of-county visitors who use county recycle centres rather than their own. A proposal to introduce permits for Monmouthshire taxpayers is being considered to relieve pressures on waiting times at Monmouthshire sites for residents. A survey found that 15 per cent of visitors gave an out-of-county postcode.

Another proposal is to replace the now-familiar free red and purple bags that householders have been using to recycle cardboard and plastic, with reusable hard wearing polypropylene plastic bags.

It is hoped this will improve the quality of material collected for onward recycling as well as reduce the use of single use plastics. The bags will hold more recycling and create an increase in kerbside recycling.

A comprehensive list of the proposals can be found on the website: www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/budget-2019-2020

Kick-starting the public engagement events will be an ‘Access-for-All Forum – Budget Special’ on Friday January 25th 10.30am to 12.30pm at The Memorial Hall, Usk, South Car Park, Maryport St, Usk NP15 1AD. at County Hall, Usk.

This forum is an opportunity for people with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities and older people to have their voice heard and contribute to consultation and engagement processes.

The wider community will have the chance to attend area committee forums to hear information based in their area.

The first is the Lower Wye Area Committee meeting on 23rd January, starting at 10am at Chepstow Leisure Centre.

Others to follow are; Severnside Area Committee 23rd January 10am Innovation House Magor; North Monmouthshire Area Committee – 30th January Llanfoist Village Hall 1pm; Central Area Committee 31st January 4pm, Monmouth Comprehensive School.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Peter Fox OBE said: “I encourage residents to take the opportunity to take a look at our proposals. For many years we have been hit by the Welsh Government Settlement and this year is no exception.

“We will continue to try our best to provide services for our communities but with this comes with challenges and changes. I urge residents to read about the changes and come along to a forum or meeting to hear how we are working to make savings, not lose services.”

Monmouthshire County Council will then set their budget on 7th March.

A survey is available to share feedback. To complete it, visit https://www.monmouthshire.gov.uk/budget-2019-2020