ABC councillors clash over additional bin bag lifts to remove waste after strike

At the meeting on Monday (September 26), Alderman Stephen Moutray proposed that from Wednesday (September 28), all properties with black or blue bins be entitled to have two additional black bin bags collected for two bin cycles so that everyone can be rid of the rubbish gathering around their homes.

His proposal was seconded by the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Tim McClelland. However, the Lord Mayor, Councillor Paul Greenfield, advised that under standing orders, any proposal that commits council to expenditure cannot be taken in the ‘any other business’ section of the meeting and advised it would be taken to committee for further exploration.

UUP group leader, Alderman Jim Speers and Sinn Fein Councillor, Keith Haughian both accused Alderman Moutray of being “disingenuous” with his proposal.

Addressing the chamber, Alderman Moutray claimed council has sustained “considerable reputational damage” as a result of recent industrial action resulting in its failure to “deliver adequate, essential services to our ratepayers”.

He also pointed out how there “seems to have been, at times, a variation of levels of service across the borough” and claimed in some areas black bin bags have been lifted.

“Many folk over this past number of weeks have sorted waste at home and stored it,” said Alderman Moutray.

“Then this week they find out they can still be a week away from having a blue bin collection. These same people then see others dumping waste in public locations and it seems the people who have looked after their waste at home are being penalised.

“This is a humanitarian request and it is to alleviate the plight of some people who don’t have vehicles to get to utility sites and are actually trapped with the rubbish and waste at home.”

With the proposal seconded by Councillor McClelland, the local authority’s interim strategic director of neighbourhood services, Jonathan Hayes, said that as this proposal is likely to incur a cost to council he would recommend it goes to committee for further discussion.

Cleaned Up

Alderman Speers said he found it “strange” the DUP had such urgency on this issue and claimed if council had followed a proposal put forward by the party last week “we would still be in the process of having a discussion about the strike”.