‘Don’t ignore us’: Plea over 5000-name petition
Fears public’s bin campaign will count for nothing
A 5000-signature petition urging Stirling Council to rethink its controversial decision to empty bins once a month could be ignored by the authority.
Tories are calling for changes to the council’s petitions process to allow the campaign against the waste strategy approved at a full council meeting last Tuesday - to be heard.
The overhaul will see collections of the grey general waste and blue plastic bins reduced from every second week to every month.
Thousands of angry residents have lobbied the council and added their voices to an online petition which had nearly 5,000 when the Observer went to press.
Current rules in place, however, prevent a petition being lodged that seeks to change a decision by the council within six months of the decision being taken.
Opposition councillors say there has been “unprecedented” outcry over the changes - approved at the June 30 council meeting - and those voicing their frustration at the absence of any prior consultation should be heard.
Tory group leader Councillor Neil Benny said: “As more people are finding out about these unwanted cuts and new charges the opposition to them continues to grow. We want the council to open their petitions process urgently and allow the residents of Stirling to force the issue back onto the agenda and demand changes.
“Councillors should not hide behind petty rules and procedures to avoid the public on this issue. Allowing this petition and reconsidering the decision is the only way to rebuild confidence in our council, which has been seriously damaged by the SNP and Labour councillors who voted for and pushed through these cuts and charges.”
Forth and Endrick ward Tory councillor Alistair Berrill added: “I cannot recall an issue and the way it has been handled that has made so many people so angry since Stirling Council was created over 20 years ago. That alone should be enough to force those responsible to stop these cuts and ensure full consultation always takes place before decisions are made.”
The council’s environment spokesperson, SNP councillor Jim Thomson, however, said Councillor Benny’s comments were an attempt to divert attention from reality, adding: “A representative from his party was a member of the working group tasked with finding a viable long term sustainable solution to the problems faced by this service. His party had access to all the information they needed to offer up an alternative solution last week. They chose not to.
“Councillor Benny knows only too well as chair of the audit committee of the need to revamp this service. He knows we need to get to 70 per cent recycling by 2025, where we have stalled at 54 per cent for a number of years.
“Instead of putting out endless negativity and half-baked truths, Councillor Benny and his Tory colleagues would do well to work with communities to help ensure everyone gets the best out of the new service when it goes live.”
Labour environment spokesperson Councillor Danny Gibson said: “The public will note that yet another week has gone by where the Tories have completely failed to tell anyone what they propose instead. We all know the status quo cannot continue and that changes need to be made. What exactly do they suggest?”
A Stirling Council spokesperson said: “Members of the public can still submit a petition to the council for consideration despite the pandemic.
“The local authority’s Covid-19 Short Life Working Group is also exploring whether an online petitions process could be implemented within current
Covid-19 restrictions.
“A petition will not be valid, however, if it relates to a decision taken by full council, a committee or a panel within the past six months. A change to this would require approval of full council.”
The spokesperson added: “The changes will come into force from April 2021, for two key reasons: to tackle a significant overspend in the service and to meet national recycling targets by minimising waste going to landfill.
“As part of the implementation process, significant community engagement and communications will be undertaken and delivered before, during and after the roll-out.”
Information on the council’s petition process is at: https://www.stirling.gov. uk/council-democracy/consultations/ petitions/
The petition is at: https://www. change.org/p/stirling-council-stopthe-stirling-council-new-schedulebin-uplift-proposal