PEOPLE living in Wrexham could be hit by a double whammy as charges are set to be introduced for green bin collections and a warning has been sounded that council tax could be increased significantly.

Wrexham Council is planning to bill residents £25 a year to take their garden waste from 2020 in a bid to raise half a million pounds.

The cash-strapped authority considered a similar move during its last budget setting process, but chose not to pursue the option.

The future of public libraries in the county is also being placed under review, with co-location being mooted as one idea in a bid to save £300,000 over the next two years.

Council leader Mark Pritchard said his administration had been left with little choice other than to pursue the measures as projections show it will need to make cuts of approximately £10m by 2022.

The independent politician also advised ratepayers they could be handed a ‘major’ rise in their council tax unless national governments increase funding for local authorities.

He said: “If we receive a positive settlement from the UK and Welsh Government, we believe that – as long as we carry out this phase of cuts – we can get through the budget process without taking cuts that would push our services over a tipping point.

“Even in these proposals, we’re proposing things like a charge for green bins, and having conversations with communities about future library provision.

“These are decisions we are not taking lightly, but if we want to protect important services like education and social care, then we have to make them now.

“However, if we don’t get a positive settlement from Welsh Government or Westminster, we’ll have to cut further into critical services, and/or consider major rises in council tax.”

Since 2008, the council has been forced to make cuts of more than £62m and has lost more than 600 full-time staff as the money it receives from central government has plummeted.

It has also trimmed its senior leadership team, which has helped to save more than £300,000 per year.

Cllr Pritchard said this year’s budget review had been brought forward earlier than usual with phase one set to be considered by executive board members next week.

Phase two will take place later in the year once the provisional settlement for Welsh councils is known.

Cllr David A Bithell, lead member for environment, said the charge for green waste collections was being introduced to protect other services.

He said: “When we consulted the public last year less than a third of the public were not supportive of green bin charging and/or three weekly collections.

“We know this isn’t easy but doing this will protect critical front line services.”

The proposals will be considered by the ruling independent and Conservative coalition at a meeting at Wrexham’s Guildhall on Tuesday, July 23.