News

Garden Tax demands for the £35 charge for brown-top bins have been hitting households across Shepway, including thousands of households without a brown-top bin.

It is thought the billing exercise could cost  thousands of pounds but will have a low return level and could lead to reduced recycling in Shepway.

Many local residents are already looking at returning their bins.

Liberal Democrat Council Group Leader Lynne Beaumont said: "Because of the mismanaged budget the Conservative cabinet are desperate to find ways to make money. A grant of £500,000 was given 4 years ago to introduce this service, and no plan to fund this service long term has been put into the budget since then.

"If £1 million had not been spent on recycling lorries that didn't work, and £1 million on Sports Centres that don't exist, the Tory cabinet would not be needing to introduce charges for this service."

"No account has been taken of people on low incomes and benefits, elderly pensioners with a decreasing disposable income every year or anyone who does not have any form of transport to recycle their own garden waste.

"This is a Garden Poll Tax. It is a stealth tax which many of people in Shepway cannot afford. It discriminates against people who cannot afford this service. Recycling should not be a middle class pursuit.

"Cllr Rory Love, District Secretary for the Environment, could not add this charge to the Council tax this year, because otherwise central government would cap the council. But if you use this service, overall you will face the same as an over 21% Council tax rise from Shepway - the largest ever increase."

Shepway Council claim they are charging for the service in order that it can continue and possibly grow.

In the letter sent to householders they say: "We believe that as only 36% of the district uses the service at the moment it is fairer to ask those who use the service to make a contribution towards these costs."

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