Council's secret u-turn on bins

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WARRINGTON Borough Council has been accused of performing a “secret” u-turn on its controversial charging policy for stolen or vandalised wheelie bins – after failing to communicate the message to elected members and Warrington North MP Helen Jones.
While the change of heart has been welcomed by Warrington North MP Helen Jones, who had been campaigning for the £30 charge for replacement bins to be removed following complaints from constituents in the run up to Christmas, she is disappointed the change of heart was not made known to her when she raised the issue.
Helen (pictured right) said: “I am pleased to discover that the council have reversed their policy. However, it would appear that there was a degree of secrecy surrounding the change of heart which I understand was made around Christmas time. Despite me calling for the charge to be abandoned I was not made aware that a decision had been made to do so by officers.
“I understand that ward councillors are also unaware of the change in policy.
“It is also good news that the council have agreed to refund charges made to people who have already paid for replacement bins. I would encourage everyone who has made such a payment to contact the council to ensure they receive a refund.”

Cllr Steve Roberts said: “The council officers really need to get their communications sorted out. I am not sure how many elected
representatives, of all political sides, are aware of the change in policy but I certainly was not, and having talked to a number of colleagues I have yet to find a councillor who knew about this.
Cllr Chris Vobe added: “The team at warrington-worldwide and their readers will know that I took up a number of cases during 2012 on behalf of people in Culcheth and Glazebury who had been affected by the charge for new wheelie bins.
“The decision to withdraw this policy can only be welcomed. This will be particularly the case in the Newchurch area, where a number of homes that were victim to wheelie bin thefts will now have their £30 fee reimbursed.
“Good news shouldn’t be kept a secret, however. The disbanding of this policy was not well communicated by council officers. To that end, I have made the point at senior levels that more robust measures must be put in place in the future to ensure that the public, and those who represent them, are kept in the loop.”
It is understood Contact Warrington has ceased taking payments and the computer system has also been altered to prevent any future payments being taken in error.


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  1. Cllr Steve Roberts said: “The council officers really need to get their communications sorted out. I am not sure how many elected representatives, of all political sides, are aware of the change in policy but I certainly was not, and having talked to a number of colleagues I have yet to find a councillor who knew about this.”??? HJMP was not the only one.

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