Council bosses respond to Conservative councillors' challenge to money-saving plans

Stockton Council bosses have responded to concerns over food and green waste collections and charges for car parks and care at home
-Credit: (Image: TeessideLive)


Council bosses say they did not ask the public how much to charge for green waste bins partly because people would choose to pay "as little as possible".

Stockton Council's cabinet has already decided on a string of measures aiming to save about £4.6m from a £8.7 budget gap which spans the next few years. However seven Conservative councillors have "called in" the Labour-led council's decision for reconsideration, saying there had not been enough information, consultation or consideration of the impact on residents.

Now, the council's corporate management team has produced a 10-page report in response to the concerns.

READ MORE: Primark shoppers convinced it has gone 'premium' after seeing Christmas range

READ MORE: Dunelm shoppers 'love' this £2 Christmas tree-saving decoration

They say Stockton Council is the only authority on Teesside still running a free green waste collection, with only a third of councils doing so nationally, and it had to run a longer service with no extra government funding from April 2026. They argue the proposed £40-a-year charge for participating households is fair and similar to other councils in the region.

They say they considered consulting residents on how much to charge, but decided this would be misleading: "First, previous experience suggests that people will seek to pay as little as possible and would choose the lowest value in any range suggested in consultation, secondly the overall financial position of the council is such that it is necessary to recoup the full future costs of the service."

The council says it estimated £1m to buy 40,000 green waste bins from wheelie-bin prices and anticipated take-up of the scheme, saying a tender for this was "not normally necessary". They justify the numbers of green waste bins and food waste containers, saying it is prudent to carry stock for people wanting to buy more or replace.

It goes on to say it has received a £1.4m grant from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for food waste vehicles and containers but not for depot space needed for the forthcoming food waste service. The council says it needs to borrow £2.3m to make up costs, including buying land for a waste transfer station, and it is appealing to the government for more grant money.

'Expanded depot at Yarm Road'

The waste transfer station - described as "within the expanded depot at Yarm Road", with developments to the weighbridge, fencing, parking and facilities - will be for depositing dry recycling and food waste. The council says this will avoid £450,000 costs per year.

The council also answers criticisms of plans to remove a cap on charges for residents receiving care at home, meaning some will have to pay full costs if they can afford it. This will affect 49 residents - 0.5% of all clients - currently paying the maximum charge.

The corporate management team's report says the existing policy "may seem to lack equality" as it meant people who had more money and could pay for their own care were still subsidised by the council. It adds: "A communication and engagement plan is in place to engage with the 49 clients affected. Around the region there are a number of authorities who have already removed their maximum charge and have done so for some time."

Other parking options 'not economically viable'

On the replacement of one hour's free parking in Stockton and Yarm town centres with £1.50 for three hours in short stay car parks, the council says: "Other options for charging were considered but ruled out due to various reasons such as they would not generate enough income to cover the cost of providing the service and maintaining our car parks.

"Providing a shorter free period could encourage visitors to stay for even less time in our town centres. They would not be competitive compared with other towns within the Tees Valley or they would not be economically viable.

"The chosen option ensures that charges are comparable with other areas within the Tees Valley for the first hour and the cheapest for three hours parking."

Council chiefs say they did not have to consult the public on the changes, merely to notify them in line with previous tariff changes.

The council's executive scrutiny committee will consider the cabinet decision call-in at a special meeting in the Jim Cooke Conference Suite at Stockton Library on Tuesday, November 12 at 3pm.

For the latest Stockton news direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to our free newsletter.