Bin fiasco week 7 - And it's not getting any better

Bin fiasco week 7 – And it’s not getting any better

 

Seven weeks after the new bin collection rounds were introduced, residents are still not receiving an adequate service – and it’s not getting any better.

 

The changes, introduced by Labour cabinet member, Cllr Victoria Holloway, are widely regarded as a failure. Despite promises of “Same Service, Different Day”, the changes have led to significant problems across Thurrock with bins being missed and residents finding it difficult to communicate with the council. Cllr Holloway has subsequently apologised, but refused to commit to when the service would improve – and the latest figures show things are showing no improvement.

 

Conservative Environment spokesman Cllr Simon Wootton said “These changes have been handled extremely poorly from start to finish. Some residents weren’t told when their bins would be collected, thousands of collections were missed and we still have hundreds of roads a week being missed, as we enter the 8^th week of the new system.

“Cllr Holloway is in charge of this mess, but does not appear to be showing any leadership. She’s more than happy to apologise, but has always refused to commit to when things would improve, in order to save her own skin. The reality is, things are not getting better – at the end of last week 100 roads had at least one collection outstanding, whereas the week before it was just 84.

 

“It is quite clear that Cllr Holloway is out of her depth and is unable to lead improvements in the service. The time has come for her to be replaced by someone with the skills and experience to resolve this fiasco, and I will be calling on councillors to support a motion calling for a change at the top at this week’s council meeting.”

 

END

 

Notes to Editor

 

Cllr Simon Wootton can be contacted on 07766 781 998. For any additional background information or if you are unable to contact Cllr Wootton directly, please contact Ben Gadsby in the Conservative Group Office on 07717 856 261 or email bgadsby@thurrock.gov.uk

 

Cllr Wootton’s motion for debate on Wednesday is as follows:

“This council notes its grave concerns at recent failures in the refuse collection service, which residents of Thurrock pay for and reasonably expect to be delivered in a reliable and efficient manner.

 

“The last significant change implemented by the previous administration provided savings of £2.1 million each year and worked extremely well. By contrast the changes implemented in June 2013 have led to six weeks of mass disruption to communities, and the costly attempts to resolve the situation have so far failed. This is totally unacceptable.

 

“We call on the Leader to urgently review the processes used to manage the latest change, and to appoint a new Cabinet member for Environment with the skills and competencies necessary to lead a recovery of the situation.”