Conservatives signal green bin tax is on its way

Executive member Marc Frost (Wixams and Wilstead) confirmed during 23rd April’s Executive meeting that, given the Council’s difficult financial situation, ‘consideration must now be given to charges for non – statutory services, such as green waste collection and Telecare.’

Councillor Michael Headley said, ‘Residents will be dismayed at the prospect of charges being introduced for the Green Waste Collections. This will be yet another stealth tax on top of the record Council Tax increases over the last two years.  Under the Liberal Democrat administration the green bin collection was deliberately kept as a free service. Perhaps if the Mayor didn’t keep spending money on wasteful pet projects – such as paying over the odds for a building in the town centre with no business plan or refurbishing the soon to be closed Oasis pool – the council would not be in such a mess.’

‘The Conservatives have burnt through reserves and borrowing is soaring. We have consistently warned that they are on the wrong track and have been concerned that residents would be lumbered with picking up the cost  – we even warned about green bin collection charges way back in September.’
Liberal Democrat Councillors condemn threat of charges for Green Bin collections - Bedford Liberal Democrats