ePetition details

Oppose the Unfair Garden Waste Subscription Service: Protect Equitable Access for All Residents

We the undersigned petition the Council to reconsider the recently introduced subscription service for garden waste collection. This fee-based model is unjust and discriminatory, placing an unfair burden on residents who cannot afford the additional costs. Our council tax is designed to be a socialised fund, where contributions from all residents—regardless of income level—support essential public services for the benefit of the entire community. By introducing a separate subscription fee for garden waste collection, the council is undermining this principle of equitable access. This new policy disproportionately impacts low-income households, pensioners, and individuals who are already financially vulnerable. It contradicts the foundational purpose of council tax, which is to pool resources to ensure fair and equal access to vital services for everyone, including the disadvantaged members of society. We believe the council should maintain garden waste collection as a core service.

Local Government Finance Act 1992: This act underpins the principle that council tax is collected to fund local services that benefit all residents. Services are intended to be funded based on ability to pay, ensuring low-income individuals can still access necessary services.
Equality Act 2010: Introducing a subscription service for garden waste collection could violate principles of fairness by indirectly discriminating against vulnerable groups. The council has a legal duty to ensure that decisions do not disproportionately disadvantage low-income residents or those with protected characteristics.
Public Health Acts (1936, 1961): Councils are responsible for maintaining public health, which includes proper waste disposal. By shifting the financial burden of garden waste collection to individuals through a subscription, the council may be neglecting its broader public health obligations.
We believe these legal frameworks provide a strong foundation for challenging the introduction of a subscription-based garden waste collection service. Let’s stand together to ensure that local services remain equitable and accessible to everyone in our community.

This ePetition ran from 17/09/2024 to 12/11/2024 and has now finished.

24 people signed this ePetition.