Charge for brown bins rubbish by councillors

Residents to pay £40 a year for the service

- ROSS THOMSON

North Lanarkshire councillors have spoken out against the local authority's impending charges for brown bin collections.

From June 1, North Lanarkshire Council will start charging £40 a year for the service.

However, council tenants who need a permit will benefit from having their permit costs incorporated into their rental costs, which means their permit charge is spread over the year, while private renters, housing association tenants and home owners will be forced to pay the full permit fee up front.

Progressive Change North Lanarkshire’s housing spokesperson, Gerry Brennan, said: “This is ill-conceived and completely unfair on those council tax payers who do not rent their homes from North Lanarkshire Council.

“If council tenants are given the chance to spread the cost of this permit over the year, then so should every other council tax payer. It's just another example of the Labour administration in Motherwell acting without thinking about the financial implications for council residents who are already struggling.