More than 2,500 people have so far signed a petition calling for a partial council tax refund after being left without refuse and recycling collections for weeks on end.
Conservative councillor councillor Alex Yip launched the petition saying that the Labour-run council has failed to deliver a basic service and residents should be refunded ‘a proportion of their council tax for each missed collection’ since the strike began in June.
Cllr Yip (Sutton New Hall) said councillors of all political parties have been inundated with complaints from residents fed-up of seeing piles of festering black bags or over stuffed wheelie bins lining their streets.
He said: “I challenge you to find a councillor across the city who has not received letters of complaint from residents.
“This petition is about giving a voice to residents.”
The council leader John Clancy has previously stated that refuse collection costs about 92p per week, while council tax covers less than ten per cent of the council’s income - the majority comes from the Government.
There is no right to a refund on tax and non-payment is illegal. However the council has promised to consider refunds for the garden waste collection, where three collections have been missed, as it is an optional paid for service.
Cllr Yip said: “A large number of my residents have contacted me demanding that they get refunds on their council tax because of all the missed collections that they have had to put up with and even take to the tip themselves.
“Their frustration so strong with people rightly asking why they have to pay their council tax on time and face fines if they pay them late, and yet the council can provide no service for weeks on end with impunity.”
He agreed there is no right to a tax refund but said the petition is symbolic: “It’s less about the refund, and more a matter of principle. It serves to highlight a failed service.”
Residents can view and sign the missed collections online petition at the change.org website.
The council has stated: “Council Tax is not paid to fund a particular service and there is a legal obligation to pay.”
It says that of a total council budget of about £3 billion just £20 million is spent on refuse collection. The vast majority goes on social care, schools and child protection.
“Therefore the cost per household for each weekly collection is about 92p a week for all refuse and recycling collections.”
