Mole Valley Conservative Councillors slammed the Labour Government’s plans to levy new bin taxes on family homes. Despite repeated briefings by Downing Street that Gordon Brown is scared that bin taxes will be unpopular, the Government is moving ahead with legislation to introduce new charges for the collection of household rubbish.

Initially, five pilot schemes will adopt these new taxes; the Government’s own predictions then forecast that the taxes will be extended to two out of three homes. Ministers have written this week to every local authority chief executive, to try to invite councils to take part in such schemes.

The Leader of Mole Valley District Council, Conservative Councillor Jean Pearson said:-

When questioned about this on the doorstep we have repeatedly told voters we have no intention of supporting or introducing bin taxes unless forced to by legislation – in which case we would, being responsible people, have to act in accordance with the law.

We believe that this is bad for local government.

• It is a new and unnecessary tax that would bring in little net additional revenue;
• It is unworkable in practice and in fact counterproductive in effect;
• Worst of all - it amounts to a financial attack on those least able to bear the cost at a time when such people are already fearing if not suffering poor economic times. That in my book is unforgivable.

There is great concern in local government about the growing cost of waste. The Labour Government is imposing massive regulatory costs on local councils. The Conservatives say that the answer is not to increase taxes on families, but for the Government to compensate councils for those costs."

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