WREXHAM Council has chosen not to introduce three-weekly black bin collections this year after consulting with members of the public.
The proposal was one of several put forward by the authority as it looks to save £9m.
It has also decided not to bring in a charge of £30 per year to collect garden waste despite a similar move raking in almost £1m for neighbouring Flintshire Council.
However, a senior politician has warned that the possibility of reducing black bin collections from every fortnight to once every three weeks could be revisited in the future.
It comes as the council is faced with making further multi-million pound cutbacks in the next couple of years.
Cllr David A Bithell (Ind), lead member for environment and transport, said: “We have consulted on a range of service areas in the difficult decisions consultation process.
“As part of the current budget for next year there are no savings attributable to three weekly collections or plans to introduce in the new financial year.
“That said the year after next is extremely difficult and we will have to find a further £16 million in the following two years.”
The introduction of a charge for green bins would have generated an estimated £590,000 a year for the council.
Almost 34 per cent of people who responded to the budget consultation question on waste services said they were in favour of paying to have their green bins emptied.
Meanwhile around 25 per cent were happy with the planned changes to black bin collections.
However, some warned there was a risk of increased fly-tipping if the proposals were carried forward, as well as attracting vermin and creating odour issues.
Council leader Mark Pritchard (Ind) said the decision not to go ahead with the changes was as a result of discussions held regarding the feedback.
He said: “After a political discussion between alliance parties regarding the proposal to charge £30 per green bin – which was put forward in the recent Difficult Decisions consultation – the administration has decided not to proceed with the proposal.
“I’d like to thank members of the public who took part in the consultation for making their views known to us on this matter, and would also like to thank staff who were involved in the consultation process.”
Proposals which the authority is planning to introduce this year, include making cuts to library services in the county and introducing a two per cent increase in charges for schools meals.
The council’s budget plans will be discussed by executive board members at a meeting on Tuesday, January 8.
This article originally appeared on The Leader
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