OPPOSITION councillors in the Braintree district have proposed a set of budget changes to help residents with the cost of living crisis.

The Green and Independent (G and I) group on Braintree Council, the main opposition group, is proposing a series of amendments to the draft 2023/24 council budget.

These are aimed at helping residents with cost-of-living pressures and supporting efforts to increase recycling.

The G and I Group is also calling for no extra “bin taxes” in 2024.

One of the proposals is the council limiting any increase in its share of council tax to no more than one per cent.

It is currently set to increase by two per cent.

The group is proposing there is no cut to parish council street-cleaning grants, which pay for maintenance work such as grass cutting and litter picking.

They say the Braintree Council administration wants to cut the grants by 33 per cent.

The group is also calling for recycling calendars, currently sent to all households, to continue instead of being scrapped.

G and I group leader James Abbott said: “We welcome and recognise the work the council is doing, with cross-party support, to help residents through the cost of living crisis.

“But that issue is exactly why we believe now is the time to avoid, if at all possible, additional costs to residents.

“Keeping council tax as low as possible, supporting parish council street scene work and keeping recycling calendars will all help residents and help the environment.”

He continued: “Looking ahead to the budget position for future years, the G and I Group is calling on the Conservatives not to introduce charging for green bins, as is currently planned to come in from April 2024.

“About 88 per cent of residential properties in the district use the garden waste collection system, which is paid for via the regular council tax payment.

“The proposed charge in 2024 would be additional to the council tax and raised concerns over reduced use of the service and potentially more fly-tipping and bonfires.”

Mr Abbot also said the group is proposing a radical move to scrap the allocated contribution to the cost of building new slips roads to the A120 from Millennium Way in Braintree.

The 2023/24 council budget is set to be finalised at a council meeting in February.