Stockport council is planning to bring in new charges for residents this year as part of its budget proposals.

The town hall is under huge pressure to balance the books, and has said it needs to take 'difficult' decisions to cut costs by £60m by 2028/29.

This includes an increase in council tax and other changes which will hit residents in the pocket.

Council tax is set to rise by five percent, which would add £100 to yearly bills for Band D households.

This is alongside proposals for a £59 annual permit charge for kerbside garden waste collection, which bosses say will bring in an extra £2m.

Stockport town hall (Image - Nub News)

New fees are also planned at around half of the borough's free car parks which were part of last year's council budget.

Social housing rents and services charges are set to go up too, with hikes varying across blocks up to a maximum of £16 a month extra.

Cllr Jilly Julian, Stockport's cabinet member for finance, said the town hall's budget plans will make sure the council "doesn't wind up like so many other authorities where we're having to ask for emergency financial support."

She added: "The bones of it is, pressures exceed funding, it's that simple. For the 16th consecutive year there's insufficient funding with which we need to protect our most vulnerable residents, deliver vital social care services, and provide the universal services that all of our residents rely on."

Stockport council's budget proposals are set to go to a vote at a town hall meeting on February 27.

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