Coming Moray brown bin charges slashed by 22%
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
IN a shock move Moray councillors have voted to cut brown bin charges.
During yesterday's (December 8) full Council meeting Labour and Tory members came together to make big changes to garden waste collections.
The price of a brown bin permit next year will be £36, down from £40 this year, and 22 per cent lower than the new proposed charge.
Council officers recommended a 10 per cent rise in the cost of a brown bin permit, taking the cost up to £44, but the suggestion found no support.
SNP leader Councillor Graham Leadbitter started the ball rolling by suggesting a five per cent cut, while Conservative deputy leader Councillor Donald Gatt upped the ante by proposing a price freeze.
This would have kept the price at £40.
Councillor John Divers took it a step further, however, by sharing his stark opposition to brown bin charges and suggesting £36.
He said: "Anybody who has been on previous councils will know my opinion on the brown bin charge.
"I am not even going to ask for a freeze today, or agree with the recommendation of the SNP group.
"I would dearly love to see a zero option, but I would love it to return to £36 which was the previous position before the last two freezes.
"I believe we should reduce the charge – on something which I believe does not work."
Tory Councillor Marc Macrae went against his deputy leader to second Cllr Divers' motion.
He said: "I would very much like to support Councillor Divers.
"I have felt along his lines for quite some time on the brown bin charge and I would be happy to second his motion to reduce the charge to £36."
After discussion, however, Cllr Gatt opted to withdraw his prize freeze proposal and the Conservatives threw their weight behind the Labour motion.
As momentum grew for the £36 proposal, deputy chief executive of Moray Council Rhona Gunn stepped in to warn members of coming cuts.
She said the report which proposed the bin charge rise was designed to show councillors that stark decisions were required to sort a "massive" budget gap.
Ms Gunn said: "I feel obliged to give a warning statement about the impact of this.
"The main thrust of the report was to bring to the members attention the massive scale of the budget gap and to give consideration to that moving forward.
"If we cannot generate additional income, then the next tier of the savings hierarchy is reducing and stopping services."
Due to the changing situation, the SNP group asked to delay the decision so more information could be gathered.
However, Cllr Divers kept his motion on the table and members had to choose between a £36 charge or a delayed decision.
After a 13-13 split vote, Council leader Councillor Kathleen Robertson had to make the final decision.
She said: "It is a difficult position to be in to make the casting vote.
"This is the first time I have had to do this.
"It is my decision, taking into account the cost of living, to go with the motion which will be that we go for the £36 single payment."
Bin permits for next year will go on sale in February.
Vote results
For Motion (£36 charge)
Kathleen Robertson (Con)
Donald Gatt (Con)
Peter Bloomfield (Con)
Tracy Coyler (Con)
Amber Dunbar (Con)
David Gordon (Con)
Marc Macrae (Con)
Paul McBain (Con)
Bridget Mustard (Con)
John Divers (Lab)
Sandy Keith (Lab)
Ben Williams (Lab)
James Allan (Ind)
For Amendment (delay)
Neil Cameron (SNP)
Theresa Coull (SNP)
Jérémie Fernandes (SNP)
Juli Harris (SNP)
Scott Lawrence (SNP)
Graham Leadbitter (SNP)
Shona Morrison (SNP)
John Stuart (SNP)
Sonya Warren (SNP)
John Cowe (Ind)
Neil McLennan (Ind)
Derek Ross (Ind)
Draeyk Van Der Horn (Green)
