‘Kept in dark’ about bins
AN Independent councillor says he and his Liberal Democrat colleagues were not kept informed over the plans to introduce a twin-bin system in Wear Valley.Taxpayers are paying £1,250 a month to store 15,000 recycling bins on a Crook farm while councillors argue about the introduction of the new system.
Labour councillors claim their opponents performed a U-turn after the system received negative media coverage, while the Liberal Democrats said they always supported having two bins but disagreed with bi-weekly collections because of health hazard concerns.
Independent councillor Vere Shuttleworth has now defended the Liberal Democrats and said: “Throughout this entire period the Labour Party was in complete control and the opposition was not aware of the order or the purchase of the bins and, critically, there is no evidence of the council having given its approval for either.
“It is a fact that the implementation of the system has not been debated since Labour lost control in May 2007, and consequently any delay can hardly be the fault of the Lib Dems or Independents particularly as they were not aware of the situation. “Responsibility for the initial premature purchase and the apparent delay in implementation rests solely with the previous administration.”
Cllr Shuttleworth also confirmed that, according to council minutes, “a working group would be established to progress the implementation of the twin bin system” who would provide regular reports.
Cllr Shuttleworth said: “Despite these assurances, there have been no such reports and it is now established that bins were ordered on November 15, 2006 at an inclusive price of £220,000 with the payment of such sum on February 15, 2007. It is inconceivable that this action can have been taken without the knowledge of the Chairman of Community Services or the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council.”
Then Leader of the Council Neil Stonehouse has dismissed Cllr Shuttleworth’s claims as “rubbish” and said: “Regular reports have been provided to councillors detailing the progression of the bins, and even if Cllr Shuttleworth wasn’t there, he would still receive the agendas and minutes or could ask a colleague.
“It is true that we could have implemented it when we had control but the fact is we weren’t prepared for the new system and we didn’t want to introduce the twin bins if the facilities weren’t yet ready to deal with them.”
Cllr Stonehouse has now moved for the bi-weekly collection to be implemented receiving the support of the policy and strategic development committee, with the proposal to be discussed by full council on Wednesday, June 18.
Cllr Stonehouse said: “It will be interesting to see how the Lib Dem and Independents vote now everyone knows the bins are there. I would like to see this system implemented as soon as possible.”
