Recycling top public priority for council spending

A new UNISON poll has revealed that refuse and recycling are the services that people would most like to see their council spend money on.

The study from the union found that 39 per cent of respondents say it would be their number one choice if the government were to give their local authority extra cash, followed by pavements (32 per cent) and homecare (30 per cent). Making up the top five spend areas for local authorities were parks (28 per cent) and public toilets (26 per cent).

Jon Richards, UNISON head of local government, said: “From refuse collection to providing support for loved ones, public service workers keep communities running. They go above and beyond to deliver for the public. This is despite cutbacks meaning they’re working in challenging circumstances with fewer colleagues than before. These awards are a chance to highlight just how much council employees improve people’s lives. They’re a ‘thank you’ to the unsung heroes of our local communities.”

The research has been published to coincide with UNISON’s first Local Service Champions Day, an event to raise awareness of the important contribution local government workers make to their communities.