CHARGING for garden waste collection looks likely be introduced in West Devon despite fears it could exacerbate the problem of fly-tipping across the borough.

A West Devon Borough Council working group has been looking at the financial and social impacts of charging for garden waste, and has now reported in detail to the council’s Hub Committee and full council on the issues surrounding the decision.

Following these reports, it looks increasingly likely the council will decide to charge for garden waste collections in the future.

At the council’s latest Hub Committee meeting, the council’s lead member for commercial services Cllr Robert Sampson recommended that there should be an opt-in garden waste recycling service using reusable sacks.

The council argues this service could reduce operational costs, ensuring that the service becomes financially sustainable and provides a more bespoke service for those residents who need it. The service would be a fortnightly collection with concessions applied for residents on low incomes, including pension credits.

Cllr Robert Sampson said: ‘When we renewed our council priorities in 2015/2016 we were all agreed that the top priority was financial sustainability, while maintaining our statutory services. 

‘While our transformation pro-gramme has significantly reduced our costs more does need to be done as we will once again be facing a budget gap thanks to government cuts.

‘Charging for garden waste collections is just one way we can help reduce our future funding gap, but we do recognise that there is a tension here between the perception of the service that people expect and the commercial decision to charge for this service.

‘The garden waste collection service is not a statutory function of the council and, if provided, can be charged for. The cost is currently shared by all council tax payers whether they use the service or not, charging for the service would help to make it a fairer and more sustainable service all round.’

As well as being a West Devon borough councillor for Okehampton North ward, Cllr Mike Davies has been involved in organising ‘Keep Okehampton Tidy’, the town litter pick events.

He said: ‘I am not happy with the suggestion to charge for garden waste collection. I believe it is the responsibility for West Devon Borough Council to collect garden waste free of charge.

‘Those who can and are able could take it to the recycling centre. Those less inclined may fly tip. I believe our council tax should cover door to door waste collection for free, and this includes garden waste.’

Cllr Tony Leech, a borough councillor for Okehampton North ward, said he was currently undecided about which way he would vote but could see charging for collection throwing up a number of problems. He said: ‘I understand the concerns people have about this. West Devon has had massive cuts from central government, and we are losing all of our grant next year. Collection of green waste is a discretionary service, and we must try and keep our front line services so it may be something we have to charge for.

‘From a personal point of view I can see it having a knock-on effect. The council will be encouraging people to compost, but have you seen the size of modern gardens? Many will not be able to.

‘I am uncomfortable with the idea of a means test to figure out those who can’t afford it. It would still have to be paid for by someone — presumably those who can afford to pay for the service.

‘If people have access to a vehicle, hopefully they will take their waste to Okehampton Recycling Centre. But with queues to use the centre, and if Devon County Council takes a similar route and charges for disposal of garden waste, that could lead to fly tipping. For those who can’t afford to pay for collection and don’t have access to a vehicle, it could cause problems.’

The current service was introduced in 2010-11 with the support of central government funding. Recent cuts to local authority budgets have reversed this position which leaves West Devon Borough Council having to consider how to finance the service in the future.

A final decision on the future of the service is now expected to be made by all of the West Devon Borough councillors at the next full council meeting on June 28 and any agreed changes would not come into effect until after April 2017.