Three-weekly black bin collections and £30 charge to all residents for green bins – have your say now on Wrexham Council’s budget proposals!

Three-weekly collections for black bins and an annual charge to have green bins emptied could be introduced as part of Wrexham Council’s efforts to make savings of £9 million.

The changes to waste collection services feature as part of Wrexham Council’s ‘Difficult Decisions 2019/20’ budget consultation, which launched earlier today.

Yesterday executive members unanimously backed proposals to launch the public consultation, which is described within the document’s opening as a ‘tipping point’.

The document itself continues around 3,000 words of text throughout explaining Wrexham Council’s current financial position and a description of why each of the proposals in the consultation have been put forward.

In the past five years the local authority have made £33.8 million worth of cuts and this year, after a 0.6 per cent shortfall in the Welsh Government settlement, will have to look for savings of a further £9 million.

Such proposals in the consultation include:

– How Wrexham Council could generate more income. Lots of ideas are often thrown around on social media, so now is the chance to use the 1000 characters provided by Wrexham Council to submit your thoughts.
– A review of library services across the county borough
– A review into transport provision to faith schools
– Increase of council tax, including plans of a rise of six per cent or more.,

One of the big changes put forward for consideration includes reducing the current fortnightly collection for black or blue bins and instead introducing three-weekly collections.

It is estimated that this change would generate the greatest level of savings, and also have the biggest impact on recycling within Wrexham.

Recycling collections would continue on a weekly basis and it is hoped the amount of recyclable waste increases as a result of this change to the black / blue bins.

Another change proposed is the introduction of an annual charge of £30 to everyone (who uses one) to have their green / garden waste bins collected.

A similar charge already exists for households who own more than one green bin – however this would be an additional £30 fee on top of what those residents are already paying.

Collection changes for green bins are also set to be introduced between December and January, after executive board members also voted in favour of reducing the collections to monthly during the timeframe above.

An explainer provided within the consultation document, states: “Welsh Government guidance is that local authorities should look to move to monthly household waste collections (i.e. your black or blue bin), in order to increase the amount of waste we recycle, protect the environment and reduce costs.

“So far in Wales we haven’t seen any areas achieve this standard. However, we have seen a number of areas (such as Gwynedd) move to collection of this household bin once every three weeks (as oppose to once a fortnight as we currently do in Wrexham).

“As we see the progress and changes that others are making to waste services, naturally in Wrexham we also need to consider making changes. There are a number of options for us to consider and we’d like to know what you think.”

Speaking yesterday, Cllr Hugh Jones, lead member for communities, partnerships, public protection and community safety described the decisions facing the public and the local authority as “impossible” and urged residents to take part in the consultation process.

Cllr Jones said: “As we find ourselves with an unfair provisional settlement from the Welsh Government, and in the tenth year of a continued series of service cuts and changes, we are now having to look at proposed changes to wider, front-line services.

“Every resident in Wrexham could be affected by some of the proposed changes – as such, it’s vital that as many people as possible take part in this consultation.”

So what happens next?

Once the consultation closes, the results will be analysed and findings presented to all councillors in December.

These findings will help shape the decision making process for the budget for 2019/20. This will then be presented to the executive board in January 2019 for approval before being formally signed off by Full Council in February 2019.

Wrexham Council never listen anyway!

A comment frequently seen on social media and now seemingly addressed by Wrexham Council as part of the consultation.

In a statement published by Wrexham Council on its news blog earlier today, the local authority says it recognises people’s “frustration when it comes to consultations and the responses to them” and that the choices being put forward won’t be popular ones.

However Wrexham Council is urging people to take part, stating: “Since the start of austerity in 2008/9, every organisation has had to go to the public to find out what they think about some of the difficult choices they’ve had to make, as budgets have got increasingly tighter. And as cuts have continued, many feel that they’re not being listened to.

“But by not saying anything, or by writing this consultation off, you miss the chance to have your say. Don’t.

“As we noted above, these are services that impact on everyone – so the more people that have their say, the better.”

How can I take part in Wrexham Council’s Difficult Decisions 2019/20 Consultation?

You can complete the consultation / read some further information about the proposals on the Your Voice Wrexham website.

Paper copies are also available by request by calling 01978292000.

You have until November 28th to have your say on the potential changes to bin collections – and other proposals.

We will be providing a break down on the various other proposals featured before the consultation closes, so keep an eye out and make sure you have your say!