The cost of a garden waste permit in East Renfrewshire is set to jump from £40 to £60 as council chiefs raise money to help plug a £19million budget gap.

Officials have said the whopping 50% increase would cover the cost of delivering the service and generate a “small amount” of extra income.

They are also planning to roll out a new one-off charge of £60 for an additional bin.

On top of that, a second bin would require another permit at £60 per year.

Cabinet members will be asked to back the changes when they meet on Thursday.

They are set to agree to the rise ahead of the council’s 2023/24 budget meeting in March to allow the plans to progress.

If approved, letters will be sent to local residents in the coming weeks to inform them of the changes.

It is hoped early agreement on the increase will give them “sufficient time to purchase a permit in advance of the scheme renewing on April 1.”

The sale of garden waste permits for 2023/24 would begin on January 30.

A council report added: “Due to above inflation rises in processing costs, gate fees and the rise in fuel costs, it is proposed that a garden waste permit is increased from £40 to £60 per annum.

"This is above the current inflation of 12.3%.

“The proposed increase, should sufficient participants continue with the scheme, is expected to generate revenue that will support full cost recovery of the garden waste scheme and also generate a small amount of additional income.”

Lifting the charge for a garden waste permit was included as part of a range of options shared with local residents during a budget consultation.

East Renfrewshire Council’s settlement from the Scottish Government will be “close to the expected flat cash position” and there “remains a substantial budget challenge,” officials have said.

The budget shortfall for the 2023/24 financial year alone is around £19m.

Officials have reported that early feedback from the budget consultation shows “refuse collection was a key concern for respondents” when looking at savings in the environment department.

They said 48 people suggested the council should “consider increasing charges and/or altering the collection cycle.”

The cost of a garden waste permit in East Renfrewshire is set to jump from £40 to £60 as council chiefs raise money to help plug a £19million budget gap.

Officials have said the whopping 50% increase would cover the cost of delivering the service and generate a “small amount” of extra income.

They are also planning to roll out a new one-off charge of £60 for an additional bin.

On top of that, a second bin would require another permit at £60 per year.

Cabinet members will be asked to back the changes when they meet on Thursday.

They are set to agree to the rise ahead of the council’s 2023/24 budget meeting in March to allow the plans to progress.

If approved, letters will be sent to local residents in the coming weeks to inform them of the changes.

It is hoped early agreement on the increase will give them “sufficient time to purchase a permit in advance of the scheme renewing on April 1.”

The sale of garden waste permits for 2023/24 would begin on January 30.

A council report added: “Due to above inflation rises in processing costs, gate fees and the rise in fuel costs, it is proposed that a garden waste permit is increased from £40 to £60 per annum.

"This is above the current inflation of 12.3%.

“The proposed increase, should sufficient participants continue with the scheme, is expected to generate revenue that will support full cost recovery of the garden waste scheme and also generate a small amount of additional income.”

Lifting the charge for a garden waste permit was included as part of a range of options shared with local residents during a budget consultation.

East Renfrewshire Council’s settlement from the Scottish Government will be “close to the expected flat cash position” and there “remains a substantial budget challenge,” officials have said.

The budget shortfall for the 2023/24 financial year alone is around £19m.

Officials have reported that early feedback from the budget consultation shows “refuse collection was a key concern for respondents” when looking at savings in the environment department.

They said 48 people suggested the council should “consider increasing charges and/or altering the collection cycle.”