North West Leicestershire District Council says it will make further steps towards being a zero carbon council, invest in CCTV and improve sheltered housing following approval of its budget on Thursday 23 February 2023.

While freezing its portion of the council tax bill for a 14th consecutive year, the authority has laid out a host of investments across the district, many of which support its net Zero Carbon ambitions.

But at Thursday's night's full council meeting, Labour councillor John Legrys said the 'freeze' was misleading as it only formed part of residents' council tax bill.

A Labour amendment to the budget would have included a council tax rise of just over two per cent.

Cllr Legrys said: "It's disingenuous to say you're keeping the council tax at zero.

"That is just misleading.

Cllr Nick Rushton says it is a 'Rolls Royce' budget

"The Conservatives will say that Labour want to increase council tax.

"For the price of some potted plants from the supermarket, we could have avoided some of the planned cuts.

"The County Council has increased council tax. The bottom line is that council tax will increase."

Councillor Sean Sheehan then described the council tax policy as 'unsustainable' and likened it to the 'thoroughly discredited' policies of former Prime Minister Liz Truss.

Cllr John Legrys said the council tax 'freeze' was misleading

However, Cllr Nick Rushton, Corporate Portfolio Holder for North West Leicestershire District Council, said it was a 'Rolls Royce' budget.

He added: "We've been committed to freezing our portion of council tax for many years, and with the cost of living crisis, we felt it was right to maintain that freeze this year.

 "We're proud to be on a journey towards becoming a zero carbon council, and the measures set out in our budget will make a significant difference to our carbon footprint.

 "In addition, we're investing in Coalville and in leisure, all whilst keeping a close eye on our budgets, which are facing significant pressure that will only increase over the coming years."

 Investments agreed during 2023/24 budgets include:

• A £2 million spend to upgrade the council's fleet to electric vehicles, making them zero carbon
• Increasing the number of solar panels on leisure centre buildings at Whitwick and Ashby de la Zouch, at a cost of £195,000
• Spending £3.3 million to retro-fit sustainable energy measures on council housing homes, with funding bids for £1.4 million submitted for government grant funding (awaiting confirmation)
• Spending £100,000 to replace CCTV units in Coalville town centre and Coalville Park
• A £50,000 professional feasibility assessment of regeneration plans for Coalville
• £130,000 for a new surface and new fencing for the 3G sports pitches at Hermitage Recreation Ground in 2024/25
• £650,000 earmarked for improvements to sheltered housing schemes over the next five years
• A below-inflation increase to council home rents of seven per cent - with money invested into council homes to maintain a decent standard