The Labour group on Caerphilly County Borough Council has announced it will scrap charges for replacement wheelie bins and bulk waste item collections if it wins power in May’s local election.
Plaid-controlled Caerphilly County Borough Council introduced the charges in April 2010.
The collection of between one and three bulky household items, such as sofas incurs a £15 charge while the collection of between four and six items is £20.
A service charge of £25 is also made for new and replacement green wheelie bins.
Cllr Dave Poole, spokesman for environment, said: “These charges introduced by Plaid Cymru are an unfair tax on local residents.
“We believe that the charge for collection of household items has led to an increase in dumped furniture on our mountain roads so in the long run, council tax payers end up paying twice. Plaid Cymru’s financial plans are a real mess with promises of a council tax freeze on one hand and increased charges and service cuts on the other.”
Cllr Harry Andrews, leader of the Labout group, added: “These charges are unpopular and were introduced to prop up the budget to pay for Plaid’s council tax gimmick. After four disastrous years under Plaid Cymru, it’s time to bring back Labour.”
labour clowns should never ever get to power again robbing from the poor to feed the rich
The charge of £15 for three 'bulky items'does not seem to be extortionate, particularly as the council claims there has been no increase in fly tipping. As for the wheely bin replacement charge I have been using the same bin since I moved into my present home 18 years ago. Far more worrying is the plan of both Labour and Plaid to increase council tax once the election is safely out of the way.
As an Independent candidate I think Labour should concentrate their minds on how they intend to minimise the rise in council tax that they propose.
The problem of Independent Candidates in Wales is that they will not belong to any effective power group on the Council and thus are powerless, and many see them as Conservatives standing under flags of convenience.
I suppose it was lucky that the Plaid charges came in to effect and were shortly followed by an escalation in Council activity to reduce illegal dumping. Apparently such activity is cheaper than funding the waste removal scheme.
Removal of metal items is no burden, as the increase in the illegal scrapping of fridges and freezers would show. Given those making the most use of this service would be households without transport inclusive of the poorest residents of the borough. Then the Labour robbing the poor comment is somewhat ironic. Particularly in light of Plaids ignorance of the poor in favour of appeasing everyone else.
As items are broken down and counted as individual components, then charges quickly escalate. Which may be reasonable for some but perhaps less so for a pensioner or young family on benefits.
At least pensioners can look forward to Plaids policy of robbing the dead to hide financial mismanagement from the living.
Surely the most convenient flag for a conservative would be the Tory Party? It's a bit of an outdated argument John, as anachronistic as the tradtional battle of Labour and Plaid Cymru; the result which is an almost complete absence of debate at the council.
I am happy to work with any party that has ideas that benefit the electorate. Unencumbered by any political dogma independent councillors are vital to any 21st century council.
The problem is there arent enough Independent Councillors to influence Council policy, south Wales has suffered from almost a century of Labour hegemony, with effetive one party rule, the existence of Plaid means that at least there is an opposition to Labour, and it would take 30 plus "Indendents" to change the political system in the Rhymney Valley, ans as Independents would they all agree?.
I must say the John Owen is wrong again in his argument that `Independent Councillors cannot influence Council Policy`,
What does he think Ron Davies and Colin Hobbs have been doing for the last four years, lest we all forget, Ron and Colin were both elected as Independent Councillors at the last local elections and as appointed Cabinet Members of the Authority have double handedly driven policy in the Plaid Cymru run Council, or would John think that both these politicians have sat on their hands all that time?
When it comes to a vote, the largest party will normally win, it`s simple maths. If the Independents do form a large bloc, are they then Independent, or do they then form a power bloc of their own?. Decades ago, H. P. Richards and Bryn John were "Independent" on the old Caerplhilly Urban Council, but with a massive Labour majority they couldnt influence Council Policy which was determined by the Labour caucua.