FLAGSHIP £18m weekly refuse collections signed off by Town Hall Tories are under attack.

The seven year contract, approved by the Conservative Executive last month (June), subject to the agreement of the shadow Cheshire West and Chester Council, has been “called in” by angry Lib Dems.

It will now be subject to scrutiny at a special City Council committee meeting on Wednesday (July 9).

The move to agree the contract came on the back of a fresh consultation by the Tories after two previous surveys by the ousted Lib Dem/Labour administration.

They did not include the option of weekly collections of black bag rubbish.

This year's council tax mail shot include a leaflet offering three costed alternatives, including a weekly collection, to the district's 55,000 households.

A series of 14 local road shows and drop ins was held throughout the district and the Town Hall set up a hot line for inquiries.

Almost nine in ten residents did not take the chance to have their say but of the 14% who did, 70% backed the idea of black bag rubbish being taken away each week, according to a report by environment portfolio holder Cllr Jill Houlbrook (Con, Upton).

Householders say the main reason is they feel it is “essential” to maintain a weekly collection of general waste.

Some are concerned about the health and hygiene problems of a fortnightly collection, including the risks of attracting rats and other vermin.

The weekly collection of kitchen and food waste is thought to be important for hygiene reasons and to avoid smells.

Many people suggested fortnightly collections would be a drop in the standard of service.

Cllr Houlbook says the new contract, submitted by Focsa, will deliver the same level of service across the district and improve recycling.

There will be larger garden waste bins collected fortnightly throughout the year.

If approved by the shadow council, whose leader is Chester councillor Mike Jones (Con, Broxton), the new contract is due to run from next Spring.

The city council faces a £2.5m bill for the three new bins proposed for each household.

The cost for a Band D household would be about £58.50 a year compared with £55.50 at present.

City Lib Dems argue the contract offers a low recycling rate below the 45% already achieved by Vale Royal and Ellesmere Port and Neston.

They believe it will increase council tax and have concerns about collections from terrace homes and properties in student areas.

The Lib Dems believe the collections will recycle less than 40% per cent of Chester's rubbish and that far from saving money, the contract will cost council taxpayers an extra three quarters of a million pounds a year, equivalent to a city council council tax rise of almost 10%.

“The real costs of this scheme are just enormous,'' says Lib Dem leader Cllr Paul Roberts (Farndon).

His environment spokesperson, Kelsall City Cllr Andrew Garman believes: “Whichever way you look at this the scheme will cost the earth - financially and in terms of the increased environmental damage.

“The Conservatives have tried to hoodwink the public by not giving them all the facts.''

Cllr Houlbrook will tell the Environment scrutiny committee the contract will achieve 40% recycling in the first year, rising to 45% in 2014/15.

“The minimum specified recycling rate of 40% in 2009/10 for Chester City Council is the same level achieved in the first year by Vale Royal and Ellesmere Port and Neston's award-winning high performing new systems,” she insists.

The contract has been written to ensure Focsa have an incentive to continually improve as they will benefit from improved sales of recycled materials.

Cllr Houlbrook disputes the Lib Dem claim the costs have been seriously understated and says these were clearly set out.

She will confirm the cost per household for each of the options has been identified.

“Weekly collection of residual waste is not only residents' preference but will also achieve savings against the current Chester City Council medium term financial strategy and deliver an improve recycling rate from 33% to 40% in accordance with government targets,'' Cllr Houlbrook will tell the committee.

Tory deputy leader Cllr Stephen Mosley (Handbridge & St Mary's), says: “It is the right thing to do.”