Full and proper consultation needed on green bin services - Cllr Jerry Roodhouse

Following complaints from local residents, Councillor Jerry Roodhouse has sent an Open Letter to Cllrs Mike Stokes, Leader of Rugby Borough Council and Lisa Parker, Environment & Public Realm Portfolio Holder to ask that the survey process around the Council's decision to stop green bin services until March be shelved and replaced with a clear and transparent consultation that explains the whole situation and gives residents alternatives.

Dear Cllr Stokes and Cllr Parker,

Re: Waste Collection

The Liberal Democrats Group on Rugby Borough Council remain concerned and frustrated by the decision that the Conservative Cabinet took to stop the green bin collection service from December until March 2017, without discussing the matter with the Warwickshire Waste Partnership which Rugby Council belongs to. Rugby Council has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Partnership, which clearly states that partners will notify each other about any changes they may be considering. The Cabinet report also gave no other options for you to consider such as monthly collections or lower charges. Instead the Cabinet decided that the green bin collection service would be suspended for three months. It was also decided that a resident's survey would be conducted after the decision had been made. However, the survey only asks about charges and not alternatives.

Furthermore, my fellow Liberal Democrat Councillors and I have met many local residents who have yet to see the survey. I have also spoken with many residents who are very disappointed the way the survey has been put together. The questions are all closed with no room to add any comments. It appears clear to many residents that you have already made your minds up and that now the decision is just about how much you want to charge residents. The survey is planned to finish on Tuesday 3 January 2017, which does not give residents adequate time to reply, particularly as Christmas and New Year are busy times for many people. I understand that the survey form and the length of time given to the consultation were agreed by the Portfolio Holder.

Through this letter, we are asking that you stop the process immediately and replace it with a clear, transparent and progressive participatory budgeting programme that will explain the financial pressures on the Council and involve the residents of the Borough. In addition, a full and proper consultation should take place that will take account of local resident's views and give the residents choices. After all it is public money and they are paying Council Tax.

Yours sincerely,

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse Leader Liberal Democrats Group Rugby Borough Council