COUNCILLORS in Kirklees today vowed: We will not impose rubbish taxes.
The council’s Conservative leader, Robert Light (pictured), pledged that there will be no introduction of the Government’s Pilot Bin Tax Scheme.
The controversial scheme is expected to be a precursor to legislation which will introduce such taxes to two out of every three homes.
But Clr Light slammed the idea as yet another stealth tax which will increase the overall tax burden, particularly for families who are already suffering from the increased cost of living.
He added that it would also be harmful to the environment with increases in people fly tipping and burning their own rubbish in their back yard.
He said: “In short, bin taxes will harm the environment and increase the cost of living. Instead of introducing stealth taxes the Government should be working with councils to introduce incentives to extend recycling. There is a role for incentives, but there is no place for increased taxes and charges.
“The Government’s own optimistic Impact Assessment admits that families will pay over £70 more, and the Treasury has openly admitted the waste incentives are officially a tax.
“They claim such schemes could be revenue neutral, but they cannot possibly be as there will be set-up costs, administrative, collection and enforcement costs, all on top of the need for new lockable bins.
“Fly tipping will soar even higher, but people will not only dump their rubbish they will put it in other people’s bins, or contaminate recycling collections.
“Research from Ireland shows that four in 10 households regularly burn their rubbish, and the same would happen here resulting in a substantial increase in harmful emissions.
“I can guarantee that under Conservative control Kirklees will not be putting itself forward to be one of the pilots whatever bribes the Government puts in front of us, and we will fight against the introduction of legislation for this rubbish tax.”
