Reading's new council could reverse green bin charge

A Berkshire council is considering reversing a decision by a previous administration to charge residents for garden waste collections.

Reading Borough Council had voted to introduce a £22.50 annual charge for the service while it was led by a Conservative - Lib Dem coalition.

The new Labour minority council said it had frozen the bills before they were sent to the 17,000 affected households.

A final decision on whether to scrap the charges will be made in July.

One-off payment

Environment councillor Paul Gittings said the review was part of the Labour group's pledge ahead of May's council elections.

Garden waste will continue to be collected fortnightly in the borough while the review is taking place.

Previously, people living in Reading only made a one-off payment of £10 for a green bag or a one-off payment of £32.50 for a green bin.

About 17,000 households currently use the service.