York Labour press ahead with the Green Bin Tax
The York Labour Council has decided to press ahead with the introduction of a Green Bin Tax after their councillors voted against a Liberal Democrat attempt to ask the Executive to think again.
The Liberal Democrat group ‘called in’ the original decision, claiming that the decision broke council’s rules on effective decision making. A debate on the call-in request was held at a council scrutiny committee meeting on 12th February.
At the meeting, Lib Dem Councillor Andrew Hollyer said:
“The lack of any consultation before the decision was made to introduce this unfair tax is extremely concerning and is becoming a wider reputational issue for the council – particularly with the budget receiving no prior consultation or scrutiny.
“Overall, the report appears to have put the cart before the horse, seeking to justify a decision made behind closed doors by the administration.”
After the meeting Councillor Andrew Hollyer said:
“Labour’s decision to press ahead with the Green Bin Tax is disappointing but not surprising. We have seen time and time again that this administration just does not listen to residents’ concerns.
“We even had one Labour Councillor try to justify the lack of consultation by claiming that listening to residents would be meaningless.
“It’s this type of high-handed, arrogant approach by the Labour Council that has led them to scrap the Salvation Army contract, try to take away £600,000 from Explore Libraries without negotiation and now introduce a deeply unpopular tax in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.”
Liberal Democrat Councillor for Westfield ward Councillor Andrew Waller pressed the Council’s finance chief on why they had made the decision to extend relief for the Green Bin Tax to only those on Council Tax relief and not more widely.
Councillor Andrew Waller said after the meeting:
“Labour’s Green Bin Tax is an unfair and discriminatory charge that even the Labour administration cannot defend. I asked Councillor Lomas three times if she thought that the tax was a fair charge and she refused to answer the question.
“I was concerned to hear Labour councillors shrug off concerns about fly tipping as ‘alarmist’ and fail to own up to the lack of consultation. I am particularly concerned at Labour’s failure to consult with council tenants, especially those who benefit from the Garden Assistance scheme or have had support removed. They have not been properly consulted in the way that happened with previous major changes.”