The Council’s discretionary fees and charges policy was amended starting in April 2017 that the replacement of refuse (residual) bins would be charged in all circumstances. Prior to this the replacement of residual bins had been provided free of charge if lost or damaged on collection day. The purpose of this change was to control spiralling costs. The Council continues to replace recycling bins and containers free of charge to residents if lost or damaged on the collection day. 

The Council’s discretionary fees and charges policy was amended starting

in April 2017 that the replacement of refuse (residual) bins would be

charged in all circumstances. Prior to this the replacement of residual bins

had been provided free of charge if lost or damaged on collection day. The

purpose of this change was to control spiralling costs. The Council

continues to replace recycling bins and containers free of charge to

residents if lost or damaged on the collection day.

Mandy Pile, Waste Services Manager and Councillor Stuart Peall, Cabinet Member for the Environment were in attendance to listen to members concerns and answer questions, following a request by Folkestone Town Council to review its charging of replacement bins.

Members heard that the council is responsible for around 40,000 residual bins across the district with the majority still fine. To replace all 40,000 it would cost in the region of £1.96M, which cannot be supported and could mean an increase to council tax.

In the last year 570 bins were replaced by Veolia and 192 were charged for, this is a small amount in comparison to the numbers the council is responsible for.

Although it is difficult to prove that some bins have been damaged on collection days Veolia will check and replace any it deems have been caused by them. It is therefore requested that all incidents of damaged bins are made to them as soon as possible following the collection days.  Veolia do try to salvage spare parts such as hinges and lids but with designs changing all the time this is not always possible.

It was reported that some areas of the district are struggling to continue to recycle due to non-replacement bins and residents not being able to afford replacement bins. In these circumstances residents are advised to contact the council so that an alternative method of waste disposal can be suggested, such as purple bags for a short period of time.

The Cabinet Member informed the Committee that all incidents should be reported and if a resident is not happy with the outcome then there is an appeal process they can go through. The Council is flexible in the way that it manages replacement bins and would assess each issue on its merit.

Proposed by Councillor Russell Tillson

Seconded by Councillor Peter Gane and

Resolved:

1.         To receive and note report OS/18/06.

2.         The Committee believes that the protection and promotion of the interests of local residents is paramount. It is the view that the present focus upon financial savings in respect of domestic bin and container charges fails to meet this requirement.

3.         It calls upon the Cabinet to abandon the current policy of charging residents for the replacement of bins where it is clear the damage has been caused by the contractors, Veolia.

4.         It further requests that when the time comes to re-negotiate the present contract with Veolia the obligation to replace bins damaged by the contractor’s staff should rest firmly with Veolia.

(Voting: For 7; Against 0; Abstentions 0)