Local Lib Dems Cllr Lynne Featherstone and Cllr Matt Davies are demandingurgent action over the unfair charges faced by residents in some blocks offlats. They will be putting questions to Labour at the next Full Councilmeeting (Monday 19th July).

While all residents have their waste collected as part of their Council Taxcharge, the provision of waste containers varies from household to household- despite all residents paying council tax at the same rate. The situationwas first highlighted more than a year ago and Cllrs Featherstone and Davieshave been lobbying Haringey Council to rectify this discrepancy.

The anomaly has been made worse since all residents not living in blocks offlats had wheelie bins provided to them at no extra charge. Residents inblocks of flats continue to pay, usually through a management company, anextra charge for the hire of waste containers. The local Lib Dem team isarguing that this is clearly unfair.

“These residents are paying for a waste collection service through theircouncil tax like everyone else,” said Cllr Featherstone (Lib Dem, MuswellHill). “It is unacceptable that one section of Haringey’s taxpayers is thenbeing charged an additional fee – for the same standard of service asothers.”

“Since the introduction of wheelie bins the unfairness of this situation hasonly been increased,” said Cllr Davies (Lib Dem, Fortis Green). “Allresidents are paying the same high rates of Council Tax but some of them areonly receiving half a waste collection service.

“It is right that waste containers are included as an essential part of thecollection process and I am happy that wheelie bins have been provided. Butother residents continue to be charged extra for hire of the wastecontainers at their flats which is an outrageous sleight of hand by Haringey Council. They must now finally face up to this issue and start dealing withall residents even-handedly,” Cllr Davies said.

“The Council has also been putting obstacles in our way, by refusing to giveus a list of those households being ‘double charged’ so that we can write tothem and make sure they are all aware this is happening,” added CllrFeatherstone.

“Perhaps they hope that we will let this issue drop – but Ican assure local residents that we are determined to right this wrong.”