Rethink on brown bin waste fee

The ruling Tory Party have stated it will explore “all alternatives” to make up a budget shortfall before bringing in the charge in April 2018.

The plan for an annual £30 charge per brown bin was one of the items of interest in this year’s council budget, which was passed at a meeting on Wednesday.

Although the option is still on the table, Council leader Coun Mullineaux acknowledged concern about the scheme.

He said: “As we go forward over the next year, other options might become apparent.

“A lot of residents don’t want the garden waste charge, so if there’s another option we can take, that will make a difference, then we will seriously consider it before next year’s budget.”

Most other councils in Lancashire already charge for garden waste collection, and it was forecast £600,000 would be generated for South Ribble by 2019/20 if it was implemented, to help towards a budget deficit of £2.6m.

Overall, the budget meeting saw the council tax precept frozen, meaning a band D property will pay £208.38 per year.

The council has pledged £500,000 to the maintenance of the borough’s green and open spaces. Other proposals passed were buying rental properties with the aim of generating £300,000 revenue a year, charging for the replacement of wheelie bins and withdrawing £44,000 fundsing for PCSOs.