Lib Dems reject £10 rise to green bin charge
On Tuesday 26 February 2019, Rugby Liberal Democrat Councillors did not support the Rugby Borough Council Budget for 2019/20 as it includes measures outlined in the Council's Medium-Term Financial Plan to add £10 to the current green bin charge.
The report approved by the Conservative Cabinet who run Rugby Borough Council says that other major assumptions within the MTFP include a £10 increase in the Garden Waste subscription charge in 2020/21 to generate £200,000 extra income in 2020/21.
Since the introduction of the charge residents in Rugby Borough must pay £40 a year for the collection of green waste, which cannot stipulate the collection of food waste as the service previously provided.
In February 2017, Rugby Liberal Democrat Councillors voted against the introduction of the green bin charge and instead tabled a motion which would have seen the green waste collection service continue for everyone for another 12 months whilst a solution was found for the sustainability and longevity of the service.
The Government are currently consulting on the Consistency in Household and Business Recycling Collections in England stating that while many local authorities continue to make improvements and introduce new services some have seen a drop-in recycling rates and do not collect the full range of materials that can be recycled or do not collect food waste separately.
Commenting, Cllr Jerry Roodhouse (Paddox and Eastlands), said:
"Rugby Liberal Democrats have consistently opposed the green bin charge since it was introduced, and we know from Warwickshire County Council that there is no overall saving for Rugby. With revenue streams drying up, measures to move to kurb side collections and plans to charge residents even more for a green bin it's now clear that Rugby Borough Council's budget is predicated on the garden waste charge. The Conservative-led administration must get a grip of the situation or charges for residents will continue to go up and up."
Cabinet Agenda - 4 February 2019
file:///C:/Users/User/Downloads/Cabinet_4_February_2019_agenda_Part_1_only.pdf
No saving from green bin charge
https://rugbylibdems.org.uk/en/article/2018/1275319/no-saving-from-green-bin-charge
Rugby Liberal Democrats vote against £40 green bin charge