Dumfries and Galloway Council considers reducing music festival support and bin collections

Dumfries and Galloway Council is pondering the idea of reducing support for music festivals and altering bin collection frequencies, among nearly 50 other propositions as part of a budget consultation. The financially-strapped council is contemplating scaling back its assistance for the Youth Beatz music festival and changing household bin collections to every three weeks. These options, along with proposals like closing schools, cutting waste recycling centers, and implementing parking charges, are up for public opinion in the budget consultation process.

The council is faced with the challenge of slashing £10 million from its budget annually for the next three years and is seeking input on 48 potential cost-saving measures. If all options are implemented, savings could amount to £5.3 million in 2025/26, increasing to £16.524 million in 2027/28. The consultation page emphasises the need to re-evaluate service delivery due to rising demands and reduced funding in the large rural area, urging a shift towards changes, cuts, or discontinuation of services to generate additional income through fees and charges.

One notable proposal is to halt policy investment funding for the Youth Beatz festival, which could save £160,000 per year. Another suggestion is to switch to a three-weekly collection cycle for household waste to promote recycling and reduce disposal costs, potentially saving £950,000 by 2027/28. Additional options include reducing layby bins, considering the closure or transfer of public facilities, and revising school mothballing policies to save costs.

The consultation, accessible at www.dumgal.gov.uk/budget, will run until December 6, with outcomes revealed at a council meeting the following week. Council Leader Councillor Gail Macgregor emphasised the necessity to find further savings due to financial pressures, expressing the need to adapt service delivery and garner additional income. The council aims to incorporate public feedback into shaping the 2025/26 budget during the annual budget meeting in late February.

In Summary, Dumfries and Galloway Council is exploring various cost-cutting measures, including potentially reducing support for popular music festivals and altering waste collection schedules, as part of a budget consultation to address financial constraints. Public input is vital in determining the impact of these proposals on the community and guiding decisions to achieve necessary savings and increase revenue.