Wednesday, 22 Aug 2007 14:21
Shadow Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has warned households their tax bills will increase under plans to reform domestic waste collection across the UK.
Dismissing claims that a majority of people would back a new pay-as-you-throw system of collecting rubbish from homes, Mr Pickles said:
"Under the government's plans for bin taxes there will be no reduction in council tax. The overall burden of taxation will rise so householders will pay more."
The government claimed the introduction of variable waste charges would be cost-neutral, and would only go ahead if councils were able to provide effective recycling schemes as well.
But Mr Pickles warned there would be no reduction in council tax and the scheme would increase illegal dumping and backyard burning.
He said the question used in the IPSOS poll was loaded and distrustful.
The poll asked 1,028 people: “Would you support or oppose your council operating a system whereby you pay a reduced council tax rate, and then get charged directly for the amount of household rubbish you produce, so that the more you recycle the less you would pay?”.
The results showed 64 per cent of people would go along with a pay-as-you-throw scheme which did in fact reduce the amount of council tax they were liable for.
“The government's half-baked plans wouldn't add up to a green measure - they are simply another stealth tax."
Mr Pickles pointed to research published last month by the communities and local government committee on refuse collection, which argued “revenue-neutral” did not mean cost-neutral.
He said any scheme introduced would require substantial administration and enforcement costs, which in practice could lead to householders paying more.
The earlier report also questioned what
would they do about none payers?
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