Liberal Democrat councillors are maintaining the pressure on Haringey Council over its failure to properly address the problem of residents living in managed blocks of flats being double charged for waste collection in Haringey. Many are charged for waste collection through their block management charges but also pay Council Tax – which should also cover waste collections, as it does for people living elsewhere.

The assurance comes from Lib Dem councillor Matt Davies who is unhappy with the response that Haringey Council has given to his question regarding waste collection. The Council say that the reason for double charging is that many managed blocks hire a waste container for all residents to store their rubbish. They argue that this should not come under the standard service that the Council provides.

However Cllr Davies, who represents Fortis Green ward, believes that the response does not justify why residents living in these properties should have to pay extra to receive the same service as other residents in the borough.

Cllr Davies comments:

“These residents have not received wheelie bins or green recycling boxes like every other resident in the borough. Services provided as standard by the Council to most residents are not being provided to all. These residents are paying as much Council Tax as everyone else, but when it comes to refuse collection they are only getting half the service of everyone else.

“Other residents are provided with waste containers inclusive of their Council Tax, so why is the container hire cost for these residents not also included in the Council’s waste contract?”

Cllr Featherstone, who has also been pressing the Council on this issue, added:

“It is simply not fair that some residents have to pay more than others for the same service. We will continue to press the Council on this issue until we reach a satisfactory conclusion.”