At a meeting of the Cheshire West and Chester Cabinet today, 09 June 2021, the ruling Labour administration endorsed the proposed new Council ‘Waste Management Strategy 2021-2031.’ In a unanimous vote they backed the plans which will now go forward for debate at full Council in July, despite serious concerns being raised by the Conservative opposition. If adopted, the strategy will, amongst other things, see the imposition of charges for green waste collection (£40 per bin, per annum) for the first time, new recycling bins introduced, the procurement of new vehicles for waste collection, a review of each Household Waste and Recycling Centre in the borough and the possibility of reverting to a three weekly waste collection service after just three years.
Commenting on the proposals, Cllr Margaret Parker, Leader of the Conservative Group said:
“Local Conservatives aren’t convinced this new Waste Strategy is fit for purpose. Serious concerns have been raised about the robustness of the consultation process that sits behind it. Residents have told us they felt it to be predetermined, biased and lacking openness in key areas with limited opportunities to give alternative views. The Conservative Group believes major flaws might now sit behind the strategy for one of the most important and universal services the Council provides.
“Council Tax increases year after year – to the maximum amount before a local referendum has to be triggered. Yet residents are asking: just what do we get for it? In recent years the Council hasn’t even spent all it collected in the annual charge but now proposes to impose a green bin tax on already hard-pressed taxpayers for a basic service. This can’t be right. We’ll also be asking further questions around the management of waste services in the borough in recent years, following the move to an ‘in-house’ company, Cheshire West Recycling, from a private contractor. Residents demand and expect value for money but we aren’t convinced that is the case.”
Cllr Simon Eardley, Shadow Cabinet Member for Environment, said:
“There are so many questions still to be answered following the Cabinet meeting today and many potential stings in the tail for residents still to come! The green bin tax is being introduced with just 14% of residents who responded to the recent consultation backing it. That’s no way to make policy that will be supported by the general public. The commitment to a fortnightly waste collection is only guaranteed for three years and it looks like the review of local tips is lining up for cuts, additional charges and no improvement to opening hours or days. Local residents deserve better.
“Nationally the Government is consulting on future minimum standards they will expect from local authorities around waste collection. This may include a commitment to twice weekly collections as a minimum and a guaranteed green waste collection service, backed up with resources from charges on producers of waste like single use plastics. Cheshire West and Chester Council runs the risk of being seriously out of step with the quality and service provision they’ll be expected to provide if it backs this new strategy.
“Sadly, the Labour Cabinet today demonstrated they often talk about listening to residents but then do the opposite. On green bins, in my rural ward of Saughall and Mollington, people tell me they fear a rise in flytipping, already a major problem, or that they’ll take to burning their garden waste instead. They’ve been told, in effect, these concerns just don’t matter. We’ll continue to hold the administration to account as this strategy progresses to Council next month.”
