TORY-CONTROLLED shadow Cheshire West and Chester Council has rubber-stamped the city council’s plans for a weekly rubbish collection within its district.
Labour group leader Derek Bateman ‘called-in’ the plan fearing the Conservative-dominated Cheshire West Council would go on to introduce weekly collections across the whole of West Cheshire when it takes over next April – with the public expected to pick up the extra cost.
He had argued fortnightly collections in Ellesmere Port and Vale Royal were not only cheaper but encourage greater recycling.
But the scrutiny committee decided to back Chester City Council’s original decision over weekly collections after a two-hour discussion in a session behind closed doors.
Tory shadow council leader Mike Jones said each district council’s policy would continue until 2011 – even though the councils are abolished next year – at which point there would be an opportunity to bring in a single waste contract and he indicated the public would have a large say in which scheme should be adopted at that stage.
Cllr Jones said: “What Chester proposed to do has gone through the procurement process. The council consulted residents who said even if it cost a bit more, 70% of them wanted to keep weekly collections.
“When it comes to Cheshire West and Chester all we can do is say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. We said we were minded to say yes but we would like a three-year break clause so we can have one service covering the whole of Cheshire West from 2012.”
“As for the future, every option is on the table between now and 2011. We will look at the different options and consult with the public.”
However, he said there was a responsibility on Chester people to achieve higher recycling rates. If that could be achieved then it would indicate “a strong argument” in favour of weekly collections.
This is the second time the city council decision has been called-in. Chester Lib Dems unsuccessfully argued the move would cost tax payers’ more money and discourage people from recycling.
