Tories plough on with cuts to green bin services

At a meeting of the Full Rugby Borough Council on Tuesday 15 November 2016 the Conservative administration who run Rugby Council, ignored a motion by Liberal Democrats Councillors to rethink the termination of the green and food waste service from December until March next year.

The decision to stop the green bin service was made by the Conservative Cabinet on 3 October 2016. No prior consultation had been sought from other Councillors or members of the public.

The Lib Dem motion which was put to a vote would have seen the issue put on hold and sent to Scrutiny Committee to find a better solution. It was not supported by Conservative Councillors, who have a majority on Rugby Borough Council.

Next year Council Tax across Rugby Borough is expected to maintain the £5 increase.

Commenting after the vote Cllr Jerry Roodhouse said:

"This decision was made in private and the Conservatives did not think to consult other councillors or local residents. Furthermore, Rugby council has signed a memorandum of understanding with Warwickshire County Council on waste services which has clearly been ignored by the leader and his team. We need more open and transparent decision making from the Conservatives. The residents of Rugby deserve better."

Cllr Tim Douglas who seconded the Lib Dems motion said:

"The decision by the Conservatives to stop garden and food waste over Christmas until March 2017 is unacceptable and has not been properly thought through. I know from surveying residents that they use and need this service and an outright cut without offering residents alternatives such as home composters or reducing the service to monthly collections over Christmas proves that under the Tories you'll pay more taxes for fewer services."

Rugby Liberal Democrats Motion to Full Council:

"Council calls upon the Leader to review Cabinet's decision to suspend the green bin organic recycling service for three months and report back to the first available scrutiny meeting in November."

https://www.rugby.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/722/council

Agenda and Cabinet papers for Monday 3 October 2016:

https://www.rugby.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/714/cabinet