Councillor branded 'bonfire Brendon' for telling residents to burn garden waste 'to prove point over cost of bins'
A Gloucester councillor who has been condemned for advising residents to burn their garden waste says he did it to prove a point over the need to reduce the costs for struggling households.
Community Independents Councillor Brendon O’Donnell (Matson, Robinswood and White City) had proposed a motion to review to look at the feasibility of providing free green waste bins for residents in troubled areas where financial constraints impact garden care and well-being.
The chargeable service runs from February until the end of November and collections are fortnightly. Each garden waste bin subscription costs £53 or £31 if on housing or council tax support.
Cllr O’Donnell withdrew the motion at the meeting on September 19 after his prior proposal was rejected. He had called on the council to look at replacing the council’s individual recycling boxes with one mixed recycling bin for each household.
As he was asked to introduce his next motion on green waste bins, almost four hours after the start of the meeting, he said he would “not even bother with it”. “It’s a mockery,” he said and left the meeting.
In a six-minute Facebook post the day after, Cllr O’Donnell railed against the City Council. “We’ve got so many complaints about people with their gardens that can’t do it because they can’t afford the green waste, and they’re not allowed to burn it,” he said in the video.
“My advice to you is sod it, burn it. The council will refuse to deliver it free or at a discounted cost for people on different benefits.
“Burn it. I for one do.”
Cllr O’Donnell has been severely criticised for his words by the Liberal Democrat leadership at the council who have nicknamed him “Bonfire Brendon”. They say his comments are grossly irresponsible as burning garden waste releases harmful pollutants into the air, as well as greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change.
“If the 23,000 residents who use the service followed ‘Bonfire Brendon’s’ advice and burnt their waste it would be catastrophic for Gloucester’s public health,” environment cabinet member Sebastian Field (LD, Podsmead). "It would be a return to Victorian-era smogs causing respiratory problems and premature deaths.
“Bonfires can also quickly get out of control and result in increased pressure on the fire service. Firefighters are already called out several times a week in Gloucester to deal with unnecessary rubbish fires. The regular burning of household waste could be considered a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act.
“His comments are grossly irresponsible, and the people of Gloucester deserve better from their elected representatives. Not only that, ‘Bonfire Brendon’ also doesn’t know his own council’s policy. He’s demanding something the council already does.
“Residents in receipt of housing or council tax benefits are already entitled to a subsidised garden waste service. Around 1,300 households pay an annual £31 charge instead of £53. If it was to be free it would cost the council £42,500 a year – the equivalent of half a percent on council tax.
“And of course if it was free, there could be a huge increase in take up costing the council hundreds of thousands of pounds due to needing more recycling trucks as service already runs at full capacity.”
But the Community Independent Councillor said he only made the suggestion to prove a point. He said he has been approached by dozens of people who are concerned about the cost of the green waste bin - including many from Cllr Field’s ward of Podsmead.
“Bonfire Brendon? Yeah, I did tell people to burn their garden waste,” he said.
“I only told people to burn their green waste to prove a point. There are hundreds of people who already do this.”
He said if the Lib Dem administration was that concerned about the environment they would consider reducing the cost of green waste bins.
“Well if the council is worried about the environment, and that worried that I told them to burn it, they would look at reducing the cost to people who are on very low incomes - but they won’t even look at it.
“I didn’t dictate and say we want it now - just for them to consider it. I represent some of the poorer communities in Gloucester.
"As well as Sebastian Field. I speak to a lot of people in Podsmead, which is Cllr Field’s area and I feel he may be a little bit out of touch with his constituents.
“I hear all the time that there are lots of things that need doing. I’ve been dealing with some of it. It’s not a problem I don’t mind helping out but he needs to listen to them.
“A lot of people from Podsmead approached me and asked about the green bins. I didn’t do it on a whim.”
Residents can also enjoy a £15 discount on a compost bin, subsided by Gloucestershire County Council, by registering and purchasing from the ‘council offers’ section.