Three Rivers District Council agreed to launch cuts to leisure services while hiking council tax and garden waste charges for residents.

The district council approved the changes at a meeting of full council on February 22, with the authority saying inflation and pay pressure has squeezed their budget.

The council said it had already made £200,000 of yearly savings and had protected services by generating additional income from investments, including its housing development venture.

However, to compensate for the cost of Covid-19 and uncertainty around council funding, councillors agreed to increase their share of council tax rise by £5, the maximum allowed without a referendum, to £188.90 a year for a Band D property.

Read more: Hertfordshire County Council set to increase tax bill by maximum amount possible

Other rises include an extra £5 on the cost of garden waste collections, bringing the cost of the service to £50 a year for the first bin, and £85 a year for a second or third bin. The district council has said it can generate an extra £121,000 from the move, but it would still not provide full cost recovery.

Parking charges, including both permits and daily fees, and pre-application planning charges will be frozen next year as part of the proposals.

The budget also suggests the council could increase income from their investment portfolio to bring in £100,000 in the next financial year.

The council has agreed to some cuts to its leisure services reflecting vacant posts, and include £7,000 a year being saved on room hire as a result of fewer play schemes being offered by the council.

Read more: Policing element of council tax set to rise in Hertfordshire

The council will save £29,000 by ending the Active Community Development Fund which delivers physical activity projects. These activities will be now delivered by a separate existing team, rather than filling the currently vacant post.

The district council will also save £9,750 a year from no longer staffing Croxley Green Skateboard Park during Easter and summer holidays.

In their plans for spending, the council will create a new £100,000 biodiversity fund, while the community infrastructure levy will contribute to new facilities at Maple Cross Playing Fields, and South Oxhey Playing Fields, as well as funding the district council’s share of the relocation of Breakspeare School.

In its £6 million capital budget, the district council is also committing £1.89 million towards its fleet of waste and recycling vehicles, as well as budgeting £244,384 on highways enhancements to support sustainable travel schemes, as well as £167,000 towards controlled parking zones.

Other spending plans include £60,000 on pathway repairs within Rickmansworth Aquadrome, and £54,000 will be spent on outdoor fitness zones.

The leader of the council, Cllr Sarah Nelmes (Liberal Democrat, Penn and Mill End) said: “As a council we have been determined over the last year to do all we can to withstand the pressures that Covid has placed on us all, and at the same time continue our efforts to protect the environment, fund our services and keep our reserves at a healthy level.

“Our budget has been designed to continue with these themes, and also enable us to deal with the new challenges we all face – including higher inflation.

“Our council tax increases are £5 for a Band D household – which is below inflation."