Charging for car parking on Sundays and removing funding for a new swimming pool are among the proposals set to be included in North Herts Council's budget for 2025-26.

A council report said the principle of charging for all car parks on Sundays and during evenings was agreed by the Labour-run administration at a series of budget workshops for councillors.

Cllr Ian Albert, the council's executive member for finance, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the changes would "ensure fairness" by ensuring "all users contribute to the cost" of providing parking and by "better-managing demand".

"Some of our car parks are so busy on Sundays and in the evenings that finding a space can be challenging," he said.

The council will also look at "on-street charging and special permits" as part of the possible parking changes. 

Suggested budget cuts also include funding for the proposed Royston Learner Pool, which saw £2.5m allocated in the budget for 2024-25. 

The latest report said the pool is "still an aspiration" but funding for it would be taken out of the budget "until a defined viable plan was available".

Funding has been allocated for other leisure projects, including £250,000 for refurbishing the changing rooms at North Herts Leisure Centre in 2026-27 and £120,000 for a new interactive water feature at the centre.

The pool's flume is set to be replaced, too, though costs have doubled from an expected £150,000 to £300,000.

Also included in the budget are plans to increase charges for collecting garden waste and an allocation of £2m to ensure North Hertfordshire Museum's storage is up to scratch, adding to the £2m already allocated in the budget for 2024-25. 

The council is also planning to use a government grant to contribute to a continuing decarbonisation project at locations including North Herts Leisure Centre, Royston Leisure Centre, the council's offices, and Hitchin Town Hall.

Cllr Tim Johnson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the Liberal Democrat group are "extremely disappointed" about Royston Learner Pool being removed from the capital programme.

He accused the council of "kicking it off the table", though he added that he recognised funding was not available in time to combine the project with the decarbonisation plans.

Cllr Johnson said alternative funding sources – including Royston Town Council, business sponsorships, and contributions from developers – continue to be "actively explored" and suggested the pool should not be removed from the budget while that work continues.

In response, Cllr Albert said North Herts Council would "love" to go ahead with the pool but "at the moment, there is simply not a business case that stacks up to go ahead".

"Costs have increased from the initial estimate and are now expected to be more than £3 million," he added.

Cllr Albert said more than £4m is being spent on Royston Leisure Centre over the next 15 months, including decarbonisation works, building a gym extension, and refurbishing the changing areas. 

When the learner pool was added to last year's budget, the council was run as a Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition before it moved to a Labour minority administration following the May 2024 local elections.

The budget is being prepared on the assumption that the portion of council tax that goes to North Herts Council will go up by 2.99 per cent, the maximum allowed without a referendum.

Last year, North Herts Council's share of council tax went up by the same percentage, which worked out as a £7.51 yearly increase for Band D properties.

Budget proposals will be considered by the council's cabinet on Tuesday, 14 January, with a further report going to cabinet before the budget goes to full council in February.