Published October 5, 2017 at 11:00
Rossendale Council Members have voted to introduce charges for green waste collections.
A report into the charges was debated at Full Council on Wednesday, October 4.
It is part of an on-going package of measures to deal with cuts to the Council’s funding from both the Government and Lancashire County Council, which has cut its ‘cost share’ payment, which supports recycling services, to Rossendale by more than £500,000.
The decision to charge for collections comes after a cross party working group looked at options on the future of the service.
Rossendale Council has been one of the last Councils in Lancashire to provide a free garden waste collection service.
Green waste collection is non-statutory service and costs the Council £130,000 a year. The service is so popular that the Council has had to put in extra resources at times to maintain it.
Councillor Jackie Oakes, Portfolio Holder for Operations, said:
The Council has had to look at different options because of the tough financial challenges we are faced with. This is certainly not something we would want to do in normal circumstances but the reduction of funding from both Lancashire County Council and the Government leaves us with little choice.
It was a difficult decision and one that was not taken lightly. I am pleased though that all parties of the Council have had mature discussions about this and looked at every option in detail.
I would like to stress though that Rossendale Council is not doing this to make money. It is simply the only way we can keep it sustainable in the future and is also about making sure we deliver an efficient service to the people living in our borough.