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Residents views trashed by Tory council

Resident’s views trashed by Tory council

Following today’s urgent scrutiny committee and this weeks emergency Council meeting, both called by Labour Councillors to review the Tory council controversial (scrapping of weekly) bin collection proposals, controversy has erupted as a cloud of secrecy and cover-ups emerges around the potentially illegal decision.

At Monday night’s meeting of the Full Council, Cllr Fisher denied his Councillors a vote on their planned fortnightly bin collection. Croydon Conservatives deliberately misled the public at the last local elections, telling residents that they would categorically not introduce fortnightly bin collections.

In a meeting that the Tories insisted be held behind closed doors in the Town Hall with the press thrown out by council officials, Labour Councillors quizzed Tory Councillors about how residents would realise that a vague council paper, which says, 'changes to residual waste collection', would mean fortnightly bin collections. Labour Councillors questioned Tory Councillors about the lack of consultation on the scheme. A Tory Deputy Leader replied that residents would understand, 'when the bin men don’t turn up.'

Labours spokesperson for the Environment, Cllr Paul Smith, said:

“We all want to see recycling expanded across Croydon. However, this must be done in agreement with and in partnership with residents, not imposed through some half baked scheme, a scheme that the Daily Mail recently likened to having a slop bucket at home. I understand that some residents will be seeking a legal challenge.”

Labour Leader Cllr Tony Newman said:

“Cllr Fisher has concealed through weasel words and secret papers hidden from the public, their plans to scrap weekly bin collections. They have treated democracy and the public with breathtaking contempt. We have been advised that this decision is potentially illegal.

Lack of transparency at Croydon Council is so poor that Tory Councillors consider the words “change to residual waste collection” enough to be considered as a public consultation. Despite complaints tipping in from all over the borough, Tory Councillors are steamrolling over public opinion to roll out fortnightly bin collections.”

Croydon resident Marzia Nicodemi-Ehikioya said:

“It is quite clear that Croydon Conservatives have lied to the people of Croydon. Cllr Thomas blatantly insulted the people of Croydon by refusing to answer questions at Full Council. The people of Croydon have every right to be absolutely furious about this decision.”