Issue - meetings

The Committee gave consideration to a report presented by the Assistant Director for Commercial and Operational Services regarding the green garden waste charges for 2022/23. It was explained that a subscription based garden waste model was introduced in 2018 and the service had continued to grow with over 28,000 subscriptions being achieved this year. The charge for the service had remained at £35 per bin per year throughout the three years of operation. Through the course of the budget consultation it had been ascertained that whilst residents would prefer no rise in the cost of subscription, it was clear that the charge should not turn into a ‘stealth tax’ and increase minimally each year. For this reason, it had been proposed to fix the price for two years.

Members heard that whilst the subscription costs had stayed the same, the cost of delivering the service had risen with increases in pay for operational staff, vehicle costs increasing and including the cost of vehicle purchase, maintenance, fuel and tyres. There were also increased costs resulting from the move to the new depot at Caenby Corner.

Having considered all options presented in the report, as well as taking note of the proposal from Government to make garden waste collections free for all through its Environment Bill, possibly from 2024, the Prosperous Communities Committee had resolved to recommend to the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee to increase the subscription for receipt of the Garden Waste collection service to £39 per bin per year, for the 2022/23 financial year and £39 per bin per year for the 2023/24 financial year.

Members thanked the Assistant Director for the detail of the report and supported the service provided to residents. Members noted it was the first time the charge was increasing and agreed with the premise of not increasing it each year. Having been moved and seconded it was

RESOLVED that the increase for the subscription for receipt of the garden waste collection service to £39 per bin per year, for the 2022/23 financial year and £39 per bin per year for the 2023/24 financial year, as recommended by Prosperous Communities committee on 2 November 2021, be approved.

The Committee heard from the Assistant Director of Commercial and Operational Services regarding options for the subscription charge for the Garden Waste Service for 2022/23 and 2023/24. It was summarised that, a subscription based garden waste model was introduced in 2018 and since then the service had continued to grow with over 28,000 subscriptions being achieved this year. The charge for the service had remained at £35 per bin per year throughout the three years of operation. West Lindsey provided eighteen collections per year, the winter suspension having been introduced a number of years ago as very little material was being collected during the winter months. Members heard that there were few queries about extra collections and consultation exercises had highlighted that the majority of residents did not want to pay more for extra collections. In addition to this, residents had voiced concerns that the charge did not become a ‘stealth tax’ with small increases each year. It was for this reason that it was proposed the price be fixed for two years.

It was explained to the Committee that whilst the subscription costs had stayed the same, the cost of delivering the service had risen due to increases in pay for operational staff and vehicle costs, including vehicle purchase, maintenance, fuel and tyres. There were also increased costs resulting from the move to the new depot at Caenby Corner. The options to consider were to leave the subscription charge at £35, or to increase it to £38, £39 or £40. If the charge was not increased, this would lead to a pressure of circa £177k in the next financial year. Having considered predicted costs of the service over the coming two years, and in consideration of the Government proposal to make garden waste collections free for all through its Environment Bill, the suggestion was to increase charges to £39 per bin per annum, aiming for cost neutrality.

Members discussed the increase of new housing developments and whether these affected running costs. It was explained that an increased number of bins would lead to needing more lorries to undertake the collections which then also needed more operatives to staff the lorries. The aim of the service was to be cost neutral, which the suggested increase would achieve. It was also noted that, as much as the collection service was cost neutral for West Lindsey District Council, the same was said for Lincolnshire County Council in terms of disposing of the collected garden waste.

Having been moved and seconded, the Chairman took the vote and it was

RESOLVED that an increase in the subscription for receipt of the Garden Waste collection service, to £39 per bin per year for the 2022/23 financial year, and £39 per bin per year for the 2023/24 financial year, be recommended to the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee for approval.