Bin fine is no sneaky stealth tax

Sunderland City Council’s complaints manager Marie Johnstone must be bracing herself for an avalanche of moans.

This week we revealed how her department dealt with 1,900 complaints in just three months - with missed bin collections accounting for 82% of gripes.

News that Sunderland City Council is set to dish out £75 fines to the public for not using their bins correctly is unlikely to lighten her workload. To paraphrase Police Chief Brody from the movie Jaws, she’s gonna need a bigger in-tray!

Critics have labelled the move as another unwelcome stealth tax. They think the council is using fines to make up the shortfall in money lost through government cuts.

Many motorists see speed cameras in much the same light.

Given the swingeing council budget cuts imposed by Number 10, you can see why the council would be tempted. In truth, however, they are responding to public demand.

There are huge concerns with the environment and people leaving bins out when they shouldn’t or putting out wheelie bins overflowing with waste is not helping the situation.

And that’s before we get to the problem of people putting building waste and other banned rubbish in their bins.

Deputy council leader Michael Mordey assures us that the move is targeting the minority who fail to act on council warnings. They are prepared to educate, but if people continue to flout the rules, they are also prepared to get tough.

Disposing of household waste is not rocket science. Do the basics or get fined - it couldn’t be simpler.

The result is hopefully cleaner streets ... and fewer moans in Mrs Johnstone’s in-tray.