York Liberal Democrats

Landfill Tax

Thank you Lord Mayor

Green taxation is a principle that all parties in theory can agree on . It is something that the Liberal Democrats are committed to.

I'm sure we can also all agree that landfill tax should be revenue neutral. It should not be another tool to squeeze people to the pips. Landfill Tax should be about doing what is best for the planet. It should be used as a carrot to encourage Green behaviour.

This is what we were told it was for. Unfortunately we can't believe what we are being told. That is why in a 2007 survey the majority of the public said they didn't believe in 'green taxes.' They felt it was just an excuse to take more money in stealth tax.

Unlike Lib Dem proposals for a Green Tax switch, the suspicion is that money raised from environmental taxes will not be given back to families but used by the government to fill the black hole in their finances.

This is the kind of taxation by deceit seen this week as the abolition of the 10% tax rate raised taxes £8.5 billion for the poorest and most vulnerable in society.

The raw statistics show that landfill tax is being swallowed up to fill this accounting black hole. Since 1996, York citizens through council tax have paid £12 million to central government, but have only received £3.5 million back in grants and help for recycling collection. Despite repeated request from the Local Government Association we have had no answers as to where this money has gone.

The 2003 pre budget report clearly stated that Landfill Tax would be revenue neutral. A carrot to encourage residents not a stick to beat council tax payers. This is a concept of Green taxation we can all support. An effective tool to influence behaviour.

We are proud of our record of recycling in the last 5 years in York. We are committed to improving recycling rates in this city. That is why we have seen an increase in recycling rates from 12% under Labour to 42% under the Lib Dems

Yet despite beating every Government target we are still penalised. Again we see an example of central government taking money that rightfully belongs to York. This is money that could otherwise be used to bring the final 10% of residents onto recycling collections Money that could be used to further expand the range of materials that can be collected . Not money that is sucked out of the city.

Currently £1.6 million is spent on Kerbside Collections and it simply makes no sense that the government is taking away the very resources that would be used to further reduce the amount of rubbish going to landfill.

The number of terraced properties with recycling collections has increased from 1000 under Labour in 2003, to now over 15,000.

Lib Dems have put plans in place to pilot recycling collections in apartments and non-forecourted terraced houses in the Groves. The experience gained from this pilot will be used to roll out collections across the areas of the city centre which do not have collections at the moment.

This process is under threat from crippling Landfill Taxes. How can we find the funds necessary for extra vehicles, and crews for the new collections ? The additional £8 a tonne increase alone equates to around half a million pounds a year. This money would be more than enough to pay for three additional collection rounds. This would cover virtually all the remaining 10% of properties that do not currently have recycling. Who could not agree that this is where the money should be spent?

Time and again we hear Labour councillors commitment to improving recycling. I'm glad that this is something that we can share an opinion on. I'm all for occasions of cross party unity.

We can achieve this goal if we stop this money being drained away. As the LGA has argued, it can take 5 years or more for councils to increase recycling or establish waste treatment infrastructure so they can avoid the tax. So why did the government give just 1 years notice? Where is the government's impact assessments of this policy for local authority's across the country?

In this chamber not long ago, on the subject of Eco Towns, Cllr Scott stated that if the government was wrong he had no problem calling them to account. Here is the perfect opportunity, and I would expect all Labour cllrs to put the needs of the residents of York before mere party politics

We are committed to reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfill. We are committed to increasing recycling rates in York. We are committed to rolling recycling out in terraced areas and other places across the city.

It is time for all members of this chamber to affirm this commitment and call for the same commitment from central government. For once let us see honest upfront taxation and the integrity to honour promises made.

I urge members to support this motion.