Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Bulletin, spring 2026 (edition 101)

'Peels on wheels’ service rolled out

The council’s new food waste recycling service has now been launched, with caddies being delivered and collections already under way in some areas.

Don’t worry if you haven’t received your caddy yet, or if you haven’t had your first collection, as we’re taking a staggered approach across the borough.

This new service will not cost residents anything and is being mandated and fully funded by the government. Around half of the councils in the UK already successfully run food waste collections, and all areas in England will have a collection shortly.

Your food waste will be collected weekly on the same day as your usual waste and recycling collections. The food waste will be converted into renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions along with the amount of waste sent to landfill. Pictured is our new fleet of food waste vehicles, look out for them across the borough.

As part of the launch, every household will receive or have received a kitchen caddy, a starter roll of liners, an outdoor food waste caddy, and clear instructions on what can and cannot be recycled.

Lynda Hodgkins, Executive Member for Clean Neighbourhood Services, said: “Introducing food waste collections is a real step forward for our borough. It’s just a small change in how we do things, and once it settles into your daily routine, it becomes second nature. And with weekly collections, it’s easy and convenient for everyone.”

Bill Cullen, Chief Executive at the Borough Council said: “A tremendous amount of planning and teamwork has gone into launching this new service, and I want to thank everyone involved for their hard work and commitment.

“This is an important step forward for our climate and our environment, and once residents get used to the new routine, I’m confident it will quickly become a natural part of daily life.”

Deadline looms on future of councils

The deadline is fast approaching, but the government has launched a consultation on the future of local government in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Please have your say!

Whilst we don’t think local government is broken, the government is intent on change. It is seeking views on what councils should look like in the future.

It wants to reorganise the existing 10 councils into a smaller number of unitary councils which would each deliver all services.

A seven-week consultation is now underway with views sought on the following proposals:

• Two councils with an expanded Leicester city boundary and a single council for the rest of Leicestershire and Rutland (proposed by Leicester City Council)
• Two councils with one single council for Leicestershire and Rutland and one for Leicester on its existing boundary (proposed by Leicestershire County Council)
• Three councils with a council for north Leicestershire and Rutland, a council for south Leicestershire and one for the city on its existing boundary. It is called the North, City, South proposal (proposed by the seven district and borough councils and Rutland County Council)

It would mean services you receive from the Borough Council and Leicestershire County Council would be provided by a new authority – everything from bins and planning to social care and highways.

The Borough Council is supporting the North, City, South proposal which would ensure:

• Councils would remain connected to communities
• Retain Leicester’s current city boundary
• More prevention focused services to improve lives and reduce demand
• Save over £44 million a year
• Create three financially sustainable councils
• Support devolution and accelerate economic growth

Have your say on the consultation: Proposals for local government reorganisation in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland (GOV.UK)

Borough Council Chief Executive Bill Cullen said: “We strongly urge residents, businesses, partners and organisations to take part in this consultation and have their say.”

The deadline for responses is 11:59pm on 26 March 2026.

Government is expected to choose a final proposal by the summer, and the new authorities are due to come into effect from 2028.

Find out more about the North, City, South proposal (northcitysouth.co.uk)

Safeguarding our habitats

A new long‑term agreement will help protect and improve Burbage Common and Woods for the next 30 years.

The Borough Council has agreed to turn parts of the site into a biodiversity net gain (BNG) habitat bank. A BNG habitat bank is an area of land - often owned by a council, charity or private landowner - where habitats (like grassland, woodland, ponds, meadows) are protected, restored or created to increase biodiversity.

This means the area will be managed to boost wildlife, and the council can sell 'biodiversity units' to developers who cannot meet their own BNG requirements on their land. The income will help pay for ongoing habitat improvements at Burbage Common and other countryside sites, as well as support the site as visitor numbers grow.

BNG is a legal rule that ensures new developments leave nature in a better state than before. The land will remain fully owned and managed by the council and will stay open for everyone as it is now.

Cllr Lynda Hodgkins, Executive Member for Parks and Open Spaces, said: This move will secure the future of Burbage Common, bring in new investment and help ease pressure on council tax, with money being reinvested back into local green spaces.

Council Leader Stuart Bray said the decision builds on years of work to protect the Common and shows the council’s commitment to safeguarding the site for future generations.

A 30‑year management plan has now been created, setting out how the council will deliver at least a 10% increase in biodiversity. The next step is to agree a conservation covenant with an independent organisation, which will make sure progress is monitored over the coming decades.

Once this is in place later this year, the council can register its biodiversity units with Natural England for developers to buy. Only the units - not the land - are sold, and the council will continue to look after Burbage Common throughout.

It's almost time to renew garden waste collection service

Green fingered residents are reminded that they will need to renew their subscription to the garden waste collection service by 31 May.

The new subscription charge will be £52.50 per year per bin, with the service beginning on 1 June 2026.

Residents who pay for the garden waste collection by direct debit do not need to do anything. Instead, the council will collect payment of £52.50 for each garden waste bin from bank accounts on 1 April and send a new sticker by mid-May. New stickers should be placed on bins as soon as they are received.

Anyone who does not pay by direct debit can renew their subscription from 1 April onwards. Customers are advised to ensure they do not renew later than 15 May to avoid disruptions to the service. This will also allow plenty of time for the new stickers to arrive.

Renewals for customers who do not pay by direct debit can be made from 1 April onwards; the fastest way to do this is by visiting garden waste

Payments can be made by credit or debit card.

For those who choose not to subscribe to the service, there are other options for disposing of garden waste including:

• Composting at home: garden waste and other material can be recycled by purchasing a compost (getcomposting.com)
• Taking garden waste to a Leicestershire County Council household waste and recycling site

Have your say on homes plan

Residents, landlords and businesses are being invited to have their say on proposals that would give the Borough Council greater control over where new houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) are located in Hinckley.

The Borough Council has launched a public consultation on a proposed Article 4 Direction, which would mean that planning permission would be required before new HMOs can be created within a defined area of Hinckley. The consultation runs from Monday 16 February to Friday 27 March 2026, and everyone is encouraged to take part.

At present, small HMOs of up to six people can be created without planning permission under national permitted development rules. An Article 4 Direction does not ban HMOs and would not prevent development from coming forward. Instead, it removes the automatic right, allowing the Borough Council to consider each proposal on its individual merits and apply local planning policies when deciding applications.

The council is consulting on the proposal in response to concerns from residents, councillors and local communities about the growing concentration of HMOs in parts of Hinckley town centre and surrounding streets.

National planning rules require Article 4 Directions to be evidence-led and focused on specific areas, which is why the proposal applies to a defined part of the town rather than being borough wide.

If introduced, the Direction would not be retrospective. Existing lawful HMOs would not be affected, and landlords would still be able to apply for planning permission for new HMOs.

Licensing arrangements for HMOs would remain separate and unchanged.

Council Leader Stuart Bray said: “For some time now, councillors and officers have been extremely frustrated that we have had very limited ability to influence where HMOs are located, even when communities raise strong concerns.

“This proposed Article 4 Direction would, if approved, give us a way to look properly at each application, consider the local impacts and work towards a more balanced and sustainable spread of HMOs across Hinckley. An Article 4 Direction is about having a say and assessing proposals properly, not stopping development.”

People can take part in the Article 4 Direction consultation by completing the online survey emailing the Planning Team: Planning contact form, or by viewing the consultation documents in person at the Council Offices or Hinckley Library during normal opening hours.

All comments received will be carefully considered before the council decides whether to confirm the Article 4 Direction and it would need confirmation from the Secretary of State.

We're helping to keep taxes down

The Borough Council is to increase its council tax charge for 2026/27 by 2.6% following a decision of the full council at its budget-setting meeting on 19 February 2026.

This means the average band D council tax (including the special expense area) for Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council will increase to a charge of £164.02 for the 2026/27 financial year, the lowest in Leicestershire and anticipated to be the 15th lowest in England, and certainly within the lowest quartile.

This figure will be supplemented by the charges levied by Leicestershire County Council £1,731.79 (2.99%), the Police and Crime Commissioner £315.23 (5%) and the Fire Authority £91.65 (5.77%).

Overall, this increase in council tax and the other measures set out in the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy enable the council to plan with more certainty and to operate a balanced budget.

Residents are reminded they can pay their bill annually, half-yearly or monthly. In a full year, the monthly instalments will normally be paid from April to January, however residents can also opt to pay their council tax over 12 instalments if they prefer.

Councillor Keith Lynch, Executive Member for Finance, said “At this time when the country continues to suffer from a cost-of-living crisis and many individuals and families are suffering financial hardship, the council does not want to make another increase in the council tax.

“However further reductions in government support grants have put yet more pressure on the council’s finances forcing us to raise the borough council tax by 2.6% a year (8p a week) to try to maintain our present level of public services.

“However, I am pleased to be able to say that, even after the increase, the Hinckley and Bosworth council tax will still be the lowest in Leicestershire and among the lowest in the country.”

Council Leader, Cllr Stuart Bray said: “Given the government’s plan for local government reorganisation across the country over the next few years, that reorganising will lead to harmonisation of council bills across the county which will inevitably lead to Hinckley and Bosworth residents paying more.”

Crematorium land sale at Earl Shilton

The Borough Council is offering land off the A47 Leicester Road, Earl Shilton exclusively for development as a crematorium.

The council remains fully committed to delivering a crematorium for the area however, due to rising construction costs and difficulties within the contractor market, the business case has been reviewed.

With full, cross-party support, the council has agreed to the sale of the site to an experienced third-party crematorium developer, with a strict condition that the land can only be used for this purpose.

All political parties on the council agree that progressing the crematorium in this way is the best option to meet the growing needs of the Hinckley and Bosworth community.

As part of the sale process, bidders will be required to demonstrate proven experience in developing crematoria and a clear ability to meet delivery timescales. These criteria will be scored as part of the evaluation to ensure a preferred bidder is selected for those who can deliver the facility effectively and in the community’s interest.

A successful provider may be able to use the existing council-approved plans, though they will need to renew highways and ecological assessments. Should they wish to make significant design or layout changes, they would need to submit a new planning application through the usual process.

Cllr Keith Lynch, Executive Member for Finance at the Borough Council said: "I have always been committed to delivering a crematorium for Hinckley. This stance has not changed and never will.

"I thank my fellow elected members across all parties for their backing on this proposal. We are still determined to ensure that a modern, fit-for-purpose crematorium facility is built to serve our community.

“It is important that our residents have an alternative, affordable facility close to home that will reduce waiting and travelling times while creating jobs for local people.

"I look forward to seeing the bids that potential providers submit. Only the best one for Hinckley and Bosworth will be progressed.”

Foody facts to get you recycling

To get you ready for the launch of the food waste recycling service, here are some answers to the most common questions we’ve been asked since announcing the scheme in the last edition of the Borough Bulletin:

Q. Why should I recycle my food waste?

As food waste is 70% water, sending food waste to incineration requires more energy to burn, so recycling is a more efficient method of disposal. Similarly, food waste that is sent to landfill doesn't harmlessly break down. It has a big impact on the environment as it rots and releases methane, one of the most harmful greenhouse gases that is 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

Q. How much will this cost? Will my council tax go up to pay for this?

This new service is statutory under the Environment Act 2021 and as such will be fully funded by central government. No increase is planned to council tax to pay for this collection.

Q. What if I don't produce any food waste?

Remember no amount is too small. The best thing we can do with our food is enjoy it, but some waste like banana skins, tea bags, and bones are unavoidable and can all be recycled. The average black bin in Leicestershire is 28% food waste.

Q. I don't have enough space for the caddy, what should I do?

Kitchen caddy: A lot of people find keeping it under the sink, next to the kitchen bin or on the worktop practical. Remember you can use your own container if you prefer something stylish or it fits better in the kitchen or just use the bag and then when full drop it directly into the outside bin. You don’t even have to use the bin, just directly drop your food waste into the outdoor bin.

Outside caddy: This is much smaller than your black bin (23-litre and similar in size to a bucket)

Q. What happens to food waste once it's collected?

More than 28% of the waste in the average waste bin is food. When recycled, food waste can be turned into something useful. Your food waste is taken to an anaerobic digestion facility in Atherstone where it is used to generate natural eco-friendly forms of energy such as biogas, an excellent alternative to fossil fuels and a fertiliser, which can be used in farming.

Q. I don't have time to do this – why should I?

It's easy, all you do is follow the instructions which will be supplied with your bin and caddy. You are already dealing with the food waste in your home by putting it in the black bin. This simple change can make a big difference.

It's important to reduce the amount of food waste going to landfill and for incineration to reduce carbon emissions, generate green energy and help reduce the impact of climate change.

Q. Will the food in my caddy smell?

Not if you empty your kitchen caddy regularly into the outside food waste recycling caddy and tie up the liners. Both caddies have a lid, and the outdoor caddy has a sealable lockable lid which will stop smells getting out and anything getting in. Remember, we will be collecting your food waste weekly - we currently collect your black bin every two weeks, so this service will remove the food waste twice as often and more quickly meaning smells shouldn't be a problem.

Do I need to buy bags/liners?

You don’t have to buy bags – you can reuse old bread bags, frozen goods bags, fruit and veg bags, postal delivery bags or single use carrier bags if you wish. Alternatively, you do not need to use a liner, but most people find a liner reduces mess and smells in the caddy.

We have provided you with compostable bags as these have the lowest carbon footprint, but liners can be compostable, plastic or paper. Currently all the bags are removed at the recycling plant and then taken to an energy waste plant where electricity is generated as they are too dirty to be recycled.

The size of the caddy is seven litres, as a reference for finding suitable bags/liners to use.

Q. I home compost, so I don’t have any food waste, why should I use the service

It’s great to hear that you are already an enthusiastic composter. We would like to encourage you to also make use of our food waste recycling service, and you use it for cooked food (for example, bread, plate scrapings), dairy products, bones, for example, which you probably don’t put in your current compost bin as they would attract vermin. No amount of food waste is too small and hopefully it will complement your home composting and enable you to recycle even more.

Q. You trialled food waste collections many years ago. What will be different this time?

The government now requires all councils in England to collect food waste separately (Environment Act 2021, Section 57), meaning every household will have this service soon. During the trial (which was 15 years ago), residents couldn’t use liners for their food waste. Now you can (any type of liner, that is bread bag or newspaper other than black or grey bags) so this will be much more convenient. Our awareness of the harm carbon emissions cause has also increased, and most residents want this new service. It will also be funded by central government meaning the council can now afford these extra collections.

Q. Can I use this service for pet food?

Yes. You can use it for most items people would consider to be food for humans or pets.

You can find answers to a whole range of other questions, covering collections, the caddy, linings, waste reduction and more, by visiting food waste FAQs

For more information, visit food waste

Last updated: 25/03/2026 14:57