£40 a year for garden waste collections

[Norman_Conquest]

Is this RC&C?

£40 doesn't seem bad, but I've got quite a lot of grass. Not sure what they're charging in Stockton where we are?

I hope I get a grass wheely bin out of this soon though, like I had in boro, as the bag system for Stockton is $hit. After two weeks they end up minging, and leaking grass juice which stinks. If they keep with the grass bag crap I'm probably just going to put a gate on the back fence and dump it in the trees/ nettles behind.

Same with recycling too, make everyone use those daft white hessian bags, to save money, which probably doesn't save money and then when it's windy all the recycling blows all over the place and someone somewhere ends up being paid for litter picking, it's daft.

Andy, that is the irony of it all, the price of £40 isn't bad for the service provided but we currently pay for it through our council tax. I mentioned above that there is going to be a rise of roughly £60 in council tax in the R&C area, again this isn't bad to what I was expecting but add the £40 to it, and it is starting to look costly.

 

[Norman_Conquest]

Why should it?
Most of what's happening in Freeport is not exclusive to Redcar and fiscal benefits won't be felt for years.

How can a council be rich when their budget is cut year after year?

I think you need to look I to that Freeport deal and just who is getting "rich" from it, because it's certainly not the local councils.

In one word - rates.

It seems you are arguing the same point as me.

 

[JonnyHistory]

Andy, that is the irony of it all, the price of £40 isn't bad for the service provided but we currently pay for it through our council tax. I mentioned above that there is going to be a rise of roughly £60 in council tax in the R&C area, again this isn't bad to what I was expecting but add the £40 to it, and it is starting to look costly.

Council tax is not a large % of a council budget. Your CT pays for very little in the grand scheme of things.

I agree it's a lot of money for struggling families but what's the alternative? Cut all non essential services and when that's not enough stop properly caring for our old and young in society?

This isn't the councils fault it's the Tories who keep stripping public services and council budgets to the bone.

 

[JonnyHistory]

In one word - rates.

It seems you are arguing the same point as me.

No, you seem to think your council tax pays for every local service imaginable when in reality it's a small percentage.

The fact is there isn't enough money to provide the services like green waste so they have to charge for them.

Use it or don't but don't attack the council for it who have zero choice, it's raise money or go bankrupt it's that simple.

 

[Marvanelli]

I'm not getting into a t*t-for-tat over bins but you left it open in your first reply to me that was what you and your friends would do.

I never once said it's what I will be doing.

So stop spouting tosh.

You jumped and assumed. And you were wrong in your assumption.

 

[Norman_Conquest]

Council tax is not a large % of a council budget. Your CT pays for very little in the grand scheme of things.

I agree it's a lot of money for struggling families but what's the alternative? Cut all non essential services and when that's not enough stop properly caring for our old and young in society?

This isn't the councils fault it's the Tories who keep stripping public services and council budgets to the bone.

No, you seem to think your council tax pays for every local service imaginable when in reality it's a small percentage.

The fact is there isn't enough money to provide the services like green waste so they have to charge for them.

Use it or don't but don't attack the council for it who have zero choice, it's raise money or go bankrupt it's that simple.

Thanks for the lecture, I feel much better now.

We all know who is at fault here and why these charges are being implemented but we cannot keep on rolling over and letting them tickle our belly and ask for us to pay more. As you say, people only have so much money and are struggling to make ends meet and the people they are going to hit out are the council for implementing the charges.

Who do the people go to when they can't make ends meet?

 

[JonnyHistory]

Thanks for the lecture, I feel much better now.

We all know who is at fault here and why these charges are being implemented but we cannot keep on rolling over and letting them tickle our belly and ask for us to pay more. As you say, people only have so much money and are struggling to make ends meet and the people they are going to hit out are the council for implementing the charges.

Who do the people go to when they can't make ends meet?

They will be worse off without properly funded councils.
I don't think you realise or appreciate the depth of this issue.

If a council goes bankrupt we will be paying a lot more for what services remain and it could have a serious impact on the care of the elderly, young and vulnerable.

Yes I agree times are hard, I was made redundant last year myself and it's been a struggle but what is the alternative here? Council keeps dipping into reserves to pay for non essential services until we are bankrupt and we all pay more?

Your being extremely shortsighted and are misinformed about council budgets, teesport and what council tax pays for.


It's time for us all council and residents to pull together because the alternative is far far worse than what we currently have.

 

[Lottowyn]

I think I remember the “good old days “ when good spirited councillors used to do the job for expenses just to cover their costs.
Nowadays the last time I looked we had people on the council who regard their elected position as a job which paid more than the average wage.

 

[Andy_W]

Council tax is not a large % of a council budget. Your CT pays for very little in the grand scheme of things.

I agree it's a lot of money for struggling families but what's the alternative? Cut all non essential services and when that's not enough stop properly caring for our old and young in society?

This isn't the councils fault it's the Tories who keep stripping public services and council budgets to the bone.

Yeah, it's mad when I see on FB that people slag off Labour councils in the North East, saying they do nothing for the area, without realising the Tory's are basically shooting them in the back, like everyone else (apart from Tory stronghold areas I expect).

Deprived areas like the North East really need to be getting a lot more funding, as there are a lot more problems which need fixing, which cost a hell of a lot of money.

This is for Stockton, council tax and business rates fund about a quarter in total.

 

[ska66]

I dont mind as long as they collect the bloody thing

I got fed up last year of ringing them up and telling them they hadnt collected it

will i be getting a refund if that keeps happening this year

 

[JonnyHistory]

I think I remember the “good old days “ when good spirited councillors used to do the job for expenses just to cover their costs.
Nowadays the last time I looked we had people on the council who regard their elected position as a job which paid more than the average wage.

Councillors in Redcar get 10,000 a year.

 

[Kowalski]

No, you seem to think your council tax pays for every local service imaginable when in reality it's a small percentage.

The fact is there isn't enough money to provide the services like green waste so they have to charge for them.

Use it or don't but don't attack the council for it who have zero choice, it's raise money or go bankrupt it's that simple.

Council Tax makes up 30% of the budget where I am. I would call that significant.

 

[JonnyHistory]

Council Tax makes up 30% of the budget where I am. I would call that significant.

30% is significant I agree, but it still does not cover much I tws of services.

Around 85% of the councils total budget is spent on adult and children's health and social care. A 5% rise in CT will do little to plug any black hole the council has from constant cuts but will stave off bankruptcy for a short while potentially as part of wider cost cutting/saving measures.

The big issue I'm having on this thread is people up in arms over a £40 optional charge for green waste. Your council tax does not cover all the services the council delivers, in fact in R+C for example despite everyone's best efforts there's still a 2 million shortfall in the budget with the CT rise taken into account.

The people to be mad at are not sat in the civic centre, they are in Westminster.

 

[Norman_Conquest]

They will be worse off without properly funded councils.
I don't think you realise or appreciate the depth of this issue.

If a council goes bankrupt we will be paying a lot more for what services remain and it could have a serious impact on the care of the elderly, young and vulnerable.

Yes I agree times are hard, I was made redundant last year myself and it's been a struggle but what is the alternative here? Council keeps dipping into reserves to pay for non essential services until we are bankrupt and we all pay more?

Your being extremely shortsighted and are misinformed about council budgets, teesport and what council tax pays for.


It's time for us all council and residents to pull together because the alternative is far far worse than what we currently have.

I do understand the importance of properly funding councils and the potential consequences that underfunding can have on essential services, particularly to vulnerable groups. Ultimately, it can lead to a decline in the quality of life for residents but how do people go on paying for these increases to services? Surely, if we keep on asking residents to pay more, they will have to make cuts in their lives, no one has an endless piggy bank. It’s been recorded that we are seeing large numbers of people relying on food banks with the Trussell Trust distributing over 3 million emergency food parcels to people facing hardship. These are the same people that councils and other major services are asking to pay more.

The issue we have here is not with the councils (the figure I read of those councils likely to go bust was ridiculous) but with the government and the cuts it's made to councils and the half @rsed job it's made of running the country. Remember, gripes go upwards and we are starting with the council.







Image of a spider diagram outlining where RCBC spends its funding. This breaks down as: for ever £1000 received, £49 is spend on highways and streetlighting, £174 is spent on schools and education, £56 is spent on public health, £84 is spent on neighbourhood services, £242 is spent on adult social care, £154 is spent on children's services, £155 is spent on housing benefit, £64 is spent on economic growth and regeneration, £22 is spent on other council services.

 

[FlapJacks]

On the south coast, I pay £89 for 50 collections per year.

 

[scottyr1978]

Its free in Stockton currently

www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/stockton-set-bin-collection-shake-28645530

I'm guessing this will soon change if the gazette link is anything to go by.

The council need to improve their recycling numbers & putting green waste in a clear plastic bag can't be helping the numbers. I will look forward to getting a proper bin for green waste as has already been said,. Whilst the council are at it they should bring a bin out for recycling as the hessian sacks they use are crap.

 

[JonnyHistory]

I do understand the importance of properly funding councils and the potential consequences that underfunding can have on essential services, particularly to vulnerable groups. Ultimately, it can lead to a decline in the quality of life for residents but how do people go on paying for these increases to services? Surely, if we keep on asking residents to pay more, they will have to make cuts in their lives, no one has an endless piggy bank. It’s been recorded that we are seeing large numbers of people relying on food banks with the Trussell Trust distributing over 3 million emergency food parcels to people facing hardship. These are the same people that councils and other major services are asking to pay more.

The issue we have here is not with the councils (the figure I read of those councils likely to go bust was ridiculous) but with the government and the cuts it's made to councils and the half @rsed job it's made of running the country. Remember, gripes go upwards and we are starting with the council.


View attachment 72801


View attachment 72802

Image of a spider diagram outlining where RCBC spends its funding. This breaks down as: for ever £1000 received, £49 is spend on highways and streetlighting, £174 is spent on schools and education, £56 is spent on public health, £84 is spent on neighbourhood services, £242 is spent on adult social care, £154 is spent on children's services, £155 is spent on housing benefit, £64 is spent on economic growth and regeneration, £22 is spent on other council services.

Mate I'm a councillor in Redcar I know the figures and what you have stated above bates out what I said, around 85% of total budget on children's and adults health and social care.

The council are not magicians, yes you gripe up but your not griping at the right people. Central government is to blame not local.

 

[Kowalski]

30% is significant I agree, but it still does not cover much I tws of services.

Around 85% of the councils total budget is spent on adult and children's health and social care. A 5% rise in CT will do little to plug any black hole the council has from constant cuts but will stave off bankruptcy for a short while potentially as part of wider cost cutting/saving measures.

The big issue I'm having on this thread is people up in arms over a £40 optional charge for green waste. Your council tax does not cover all the services the council delivers, in fact in R+C for example despite everyone's best efforts there's still a 2 million shortfall in the budget with the CT rise taken into account.

The people to be mad at are not sat in the civic centre, they are in Westminster.

I agree adult and children's health and social care get the most spent on them, however it makes up 49% of the expenditure where I am. Just out of interest where do you get the 85% from?

 

[Norman_Conquest]

Mate I'm a councillor in Redcar I know the figures and what you have stated above bates out what I said, around 85% of total budget on children's and adults health and social care.

The council are not magicians, yes you gripe up but your not griping at the right people. Central government is to blame not local.

I gathered you were when I received a lecture on how councils are run.

No doubt, you won’t share which ward?

Regarding gripes, they go up by level, we gripe to you, you gripe to the council leaders, and they gripe to the government.

 

[Corcaigh_the_Cat]

That’s not the case in R&C, there are only certain items that can be put in your bins. R&C even employed bin inspectors recently.

Use your household waste bin, the bin with the brown lid, to dispose of any non-recyclable waste such as:

• Non-recyclables;
• Dust and ash (bagged securely);
• Cotton buds;
• Food waste;
• Polystyrene;
• Pet bedding;
• Bagged dog / pet waste;
• Wet soiled paper;
• Pizza boxes;
• Wet wipes.

What not to put in your household waste bin​

There are a number of items that you should not put in your household waste bin. These include:

• any recyclable items - please put these in your blue recycling bin
• batteries
• electrical items
• hazardous materials such as asbestos, flammables, paint tins etc - please book an appointment at Dunsdale tip to safely dispose of items such as these.

If you have waste items that are too large to fit in your household waste bin, you can book an appointment at Dunsdale tip to safely dispose of them.

Kerbside WEEE Collections​

Following a number of vehicle fires caused by electrical items being disposed in Household Waste bins, we have introduced kerbside WEEE collections.

These collections will take place on the same collection day as your Household Waste bin. Residents can present items in a transparent bag next to their household waste bins.

We will collect items:​

• No bigger than a kettle
• Presented in a clear plastic bag
• Batteries other than lead acid (wet type) can be presented

Examples of Kerbside WEEE include:​

• Mobile phones
• Remote controls
• Digi boxes
• Electronic toys
• Kettles
• Hairdryers
• Chargers
• Toasters
• Vape pens
• Electronic toothbrushes
• Shavers
• Irons
• Small DIY tools
• Clocks
• Radios

An excellent service.