Extra uplift proposal
Cllr calls for change
Councillor calls for change
An extra free special uplift for residents is needed to tackle the blight of flytipping.
That’s the suggestion from South Lanarkshire Council’s Labour Group leader Joe Fagan.
The East Kilbride Central North councillor made the call at a meeting of the executive committee.
In South Lanarkshire, the first uplift is free with any additional being charged at £30. However, neighbouring North Lanarkshire Council offer their residents three free special uplifts a year.
While Cllr Fagan put forward an amendment proposing two free uplifts and a consultation into council parking charges, officers said they would have to look at the costs involved in regards to refuse uplifts.
However, it was agreed a report could be collated and distributed among group leaders.
Cllr Fagan said: “I would be interested to find out how the one free special uplift relates to the council’s performance when it comes to fly-tipping.
“I believe it is something which is under-reported, although I know there is work going on to address it, and it is particularly an issue with flatted and tenement properties.
“I would propose that the council look at two free uplifts instead of one. This would be a very modest change but it would go a long way to address fly-tipping.”
Avondale and Stonehouse councillor Margaret Cooper, leader of the Independent Group, insists the proposal could have implications for the budget.
She said: “It’s very difficult to corollate fly-tipping with the one free uplift. There are budget implications so would it not have to form part of the budget?
“It could represent a loss of income to the council and officers would have to figure out what that loss of income would be and its impact on other service provision.”