Liverpool green bin charge could increase - council papers show

Liverpool green bin charges could be increased under new plans

The annual charge for collecting green garden waste bins across Liverpool could be increased by 25%.

The fee was adopted in 2022 by the city council, as part of a plan to address some of its financial issues and raise more than £1m.

New budget papers have revealed the £40 charge for a single bin for a year could be increased to £50, subject to cabinet approval.

The impact of introducing the fee led to a split in the ruling Labour group.

A new political grouping was born when former Labour members refused to vote for the council's annual budget, which included the surcharge.

A petition was launched in opposition to the plans with thousands of residents making their feelings known online.

'Value for money'

According to the authority's new fees and charges scheme for the next financial year, having two green bins emptied will now cost £93.75 - increased from £75.

Three bins would amount to £125.

Councillor Carl Cashman, leader of the opposition Liberal Democrat group, accused the Labour leadership of hiding the increase.

He said: "This is really poor from Labour to bury a 25% tax hike in the last appendix of the cabinet report on financial strategy - why hasn't this gone in front of the neighbourhood committee or the finance committee?

"It seems as though Labour think they can just jack the prices way above inflation and everyone can just lump it."

Liberal Democrat group leader Carl Cashman accused the Labour group of hiding the increase

In establishing the fee, Liverpool has become the fourth of the six Liverpool City Region local authorities to ask residents to stump up for collections.

St Helens, Wirral and Halton already charge a fee while Knowsley and Sefton still provide the service for free.

Since taking control of the council, the Labour administration, elected last May, has been keen to underline its fiscal responsibility.

Labour councillor Ruth Bennett, deputy leader and cabinet member for finance and resources, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that in order to maximise its income it was important that the council reviewed its fees and charges on a regular basis.

She said: "At a time when our finances are under a great deal of pressure, it is absolutely vital that we recover money owed to us in a timely manner.

"The changes we are making to our systems and processes are starting to make a real difference to our finances."

She added that the council was also rolling out new methods to pay which made it quicker and easier to do so, adding that it was "vital to us becoming an organisation that provides efficient services which are value for money".