Online poll shows 92% against plan for brown bin collection charge
HUNDREDS of people have used a Derby Telegraph online poll to show their opposition to planned charges for brown bin collections.
The city council is proposing to bring in a fee of £40 per year from 2014 for households wanting them collected. Additional bins would cost £20 each.
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Derby City Council is planning to charge £40 to collect brown bins. In our online poll, 92% were against the idea.
The ruling Labour group says the move is necessary in the face of Government-enforced cuts which have left the authority needing to make savings of £62m over the next three years.
We posed the question: "Are you in favour of a 'brown bin tax' proposed by Derby City Council?"
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Of the 1,643 people who responded, 1,511 (92%) said "absolutely not" and 132 (8%) voted "I am, yes".
And a petition organised by the council's Conservative opposition to protest at the plan has attracted more than 1,600 signatures.
Tory councillor Evonne Williams, who represents Spondon, said the results of the online poll demonstrated a "lack of understanding" by the ruling Labour group.
She said: "It's a stealth tax. I'm not having to go out and get signatures – people are coming to me and not people who would necessarily vote Conservative. They are upset and want to know what they can do about it."
Ron Horsefield, 94, of Spondon, is against the charge.
He said: "Getting about to compost the things I would otherwise put in the brown bin isn't possible for me anymore. I have difficulty walking and my wife has a bad leg. I'd have to pay up and that obviously isn't welcome."
Labour says the charging is not a tax because people do not have to pay for the service.
Labour councillor Ranjit Banwait, cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said the charge had already been brought in by about a third of councils across the county.
He said: "The alternative is going back to what we have done for generations – home composting, which is actually the most environmentally-friendly option.
"People can also dispose of waste free of charge at the Raynesway recycling centre or put it into the black bin.
"These changes to the collections will save £1.7 million. It is proposed to put this towards paying for other services that otherwise would have to be cut instead"
POLL: You can vote on our poll above right.
Comments
by Tamas
Monday, January 14 2013, 9:19AM
“Well, let them dig their own hole and bury themselves in it. Councillors landfill.”
by janine2011
Friday, January 11 2013, 11:22AM
“The £20 for each additional bins is a bit of problem, how many people have more than one brown bin? So are they planning to charge everyone to have their blue and black bin emptied as well? I can see Labour losing at the next local election and being kept out for many years as well. Charge me twice to empty my bin and it will be emptied on my councillors doorstep.”
by dlaney
Friday, January 11 2013, 10:07AM
“I am a Labour voter but if they bring in this blatant stealth tax then I will vote for another council in the future. The majority of people are against this so let's see if this council actually does what the populus want or whether they ignore public opinion - I think in their own little world of dollar signs they will implement this. However as they continue on this route the damage will come back to haunt them in subsequent elections.”
by A_Marsden
Friday, January 11 2013, 8:42AM
“Please sign out petition
https://http://tinyurl.com/bwbmsab”
by Marcus_oNE
Friday, January 11 2013, 8:33AM
“Derby must one of the few, if only, councils who have blatantly tried to pass on the budget cuts directly to the taxpayer in this way - Bhanwait has shown he has absolutely no idea of the strength of public feeling/anger towards such a tax!
I pay council tax that covers it!”