South Northants residents to pay £42 garden waste charge

Residents in Northampton already pay to have their garden waste collected

A decision to charge residents for the collection of garden waste has been criticised as "pure profiteering" and "a stealth tax".

West Northamptonshire Council's cabinet voted to introduce a £42 annual charge for green waste collection for people in south Northamptonshire.

Opposition councillors criticised the move.

The ruling Tory group said it was harmonising charges across the unitary authority, which was formed in April.

Conservative-run West Northamptonshire Council covers an area which includes the former council districts of South Northamptonshire, Northampton and Daventry.

People in Daventry and Northampton had already been paying for garden waste collection, but those in south Northants had previously got the service for free.

Ian McCord accused West Northamptonshire Council's leaders of imposing Northampton's methods across the authority

At a meeting on Tuesday, the new authority's cabinet voted to charge all residents £42 per year for the service from April next year.

Former South Northamptonshire District Council leader, Ian McCord, said it was part of the "Northamptonisation of West Northants".

Mr McCord, who is currently sitting as an independent on West Northants after being suspended by the ruling Conservative group in May, told the meeting: "The administration continues its quest for mediocrity.

"This proposal is just the latest in a now very-established pattern... don't look for good, best practice or excellence, do it the Northampton way."

He added it was "pure profiteering".

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Emma Roberts, the deputy leader of the opposition Labour group, said the charge was a "stealth tax".

"I opposed it in Northampton," she said. "We are here because we are grossly underfunded from central government."

Liberal Democrat group leader, Sally Beardsworth, said people with low incomes would struggle to find the money.

"We need to be make sure we are not alienating people in south Northants," she said.

Cabinet member for waste Phil Larratt denied the move was "Northamptonisation".

The council said the change "ensures a fair system for all residents".

"This is an issue we have to tackle. We have a responsibility to harmonise matters," he said.

Mr Larratt added that 63% of local authorities nationally charged for garden waste collection.

Conservative deputy leader Adam Brown said "indulging in anti-Northampton, anti-Towcester or anti-Daventry rhetoric" did not help West Northamptonshire act as one council.