Dudley Council plans inflation-busting increases in fees
Dudley Council is planning an inflation-busting series of hikes in fees as it battles to balance its books.
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The authority has a legal obligation to set a budget where its spending is not likely to be more than it can afford and with a £46m shortfall to contend with service users will be asked to dig deep in the coming financial year.
The UK inflation (CPI) is hovering at around 2.6 percent but planned rises in rates of council charges for the 2025/26 financial year look set to be much greater.
Leisure centre users can expect to be paying more, especially young people where fees for juniors look set to be brought into line with adult charges.
A youngster who fancies a game of badminton at a council-run centre during peak times will be served with a 130 percent increase from £6.50 to £15 while off-peak charges could increase by 128 percent, from £5.25 to £12.
