No plans for extra bin tax in Kirklees

Jan 10 2009 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A TOP councillor has vowed to protect residents from paying extra bin tax.

Kirklees Council leader, Clr Robert Light, is against Government plans to charge more for waste collection.

The Conservative said: “I believe these proposed charges are completely unacceptable. To increase the financial burden on families already struggling through a Labour-sponsored recession is immoral.

“These charges will be in addition to normal council tax. The overall cost will increase because of the associated costs in levying and enforcing a new tax.

“There will also be harm to the environment through increased fly-tipping and backyard burning from households trying to avoid the tax.”

Clr Light said legislation passed by Parliament late last year allows the Government to impose the tax over the head of councils. He said: “The Government passed laws which received Royal Assent at the end of November allowing them to charge for household rubbish collections. The small print of the legislation allows the Government to impose the taxes on all local authorities without the need for a vote in Parliament.

“While the Conservatives are in control of Kirklees we will do everything we can to ensure the taxes are not implemented here.

“The Government’s own impact assessment suggests that two out of three homes will be liable to pay these taxes. If Labour wins the next general election, families across Kirklees will be hit by this new stealth tax.”