Councillors slam plans to charge for services

Last week Rother District Council agreed that from April 2014 any householder wishing to make use of green bin collections should be asked to pay an annual fee of £25 on top of their Council Tax.

The move has angered residents who live in rural Rother, with a number of residents writing in to the Observer to express their anger at the decision.

These feelings were echoed by councillors at a meeting of Battle Town Council on Tuesday night.

Cllr Ron Harris said: “I feel quite strongly about this.

“This is a service we have, I believe, a right to.

“We have this principal to provide services for everybody, irrespective of whether they want them or not.”

Cllr Marie-Louise Neill said the people who live in rural Rother would be “penalised” by the charges.

Cllr Margaret Kiloh described it as “the thin end of the wedge” in terms of charging for services.

Rother councillor Kevin Dixon pointed out that whilst neighbouring Wealden District Council made the decision not to charge for the collection of garden waste, both Eastbourne and Hastings Borough Councils always have done.

Cllr Kevin Dixon said: “What I hope would come out of this is more help for home composting.

“Is it very viable or green to have it taken away in a big truck?”

Rother was also criticised after it was revealed that the council has started charging for planning advice.

Cllr Thelma Farr revealed that one Battle resident had been presented with a bill after she phoned the council to ask for advice on a planning application related to her garage door.

Rother Cllr Kathryn Field said: “I would have thought it was very dodgy ground.”

Cllr Ron Harris said: “So what is the next service we have got to start paying for?”

He added: “Surely a scheme could be devised to differentiate between bigger companies and private individuals?”

Cllr Farr said: “It was a Battle citizen and not a private developer.”

Rother began charging for certain planning advice on May 1.

A new wave of charges is expected to come into force on July 1.