Confusion surrounds Labour’s plans to scrap free garden waste collections after a proposed consultation on the changes was delayed.

In July Liberal Democrats revealed that Labour run City of York Council was considering introducing a “subscription-based service” and seasonal garden waste collections in a bid to make budget savings. Under Labour’s timetable consultation with residents was due to take place in August with a decision being taken by the Cabinet Member in September. However, just days after the plans were revealed Cllr Sandy Fraser, then Cabinet Member for Environment Services, resigned and so far no consultation on green bins has happened.

Fresh doubts about the plans emerged last week after it was revealed that the Council missed recycling targets for the April to June period, and the percentage of waste sent to landfill sites was higher than anticipated leading to additional landfill tax for the authority. In April Labour controversially closed the Beckfield Lane Household Waste and Recycling Centre.

Councillor Ann Reid, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Environmental Services, commented:

“There appears to be increasing confusion over the plans. Proposed savings in the department were agreed by Labour in February, but no precise details were given. In July plans to reduce or charge for the garden waste service began to emerge and a consultation timetable was agreed. Then the Cabinet Member resigned and now the timetable has been scrapped. It is a mess.

“Labour did not consider how unpopular the plans would be or that any budget savings achieved could be cancelled out by a fall in recycling rates, an increase in waste being landfilled, and an ensuing rise in the landfill tax the Council pays. Recycling and landfill targets are already being missed after the closure of Beckfield Lane and the Council is paying more landfill tax because of this. Ending free green bin collections will only compound the problem.

“It appears that officers need extra time to find solutions to get Labour out of this financial and public relations hole.”