THUMBS UP FOR NEW RECYCLING MONEY, THUMBS DOWN FOR WHITEHALL CONTROL
Liberal Democrat local government leaders welcome Eric Pickles' announcement of £250 million new money for waste collection and recycling, but criticise the strings attached that make weekly bin collection a requirement.
Keith House, LGA Lib Dem Spokesperson on the Environment said - "It's good news that the coalition government is providing new money to councils for the vital front-line services of bin collection and recycling. Hard pressed councils will be pleased to receive positive news amidst the general picture of severe reductions in spending.
"However, there is more than a whiff of old fashioned 'Whitehall knows best' in Eric Pickles' dictat that only councils that provide weekly bin collection will be eligible for the new money".
Dorothy Thornhill, Deputy Leader (Political) LGA Lib Dem Group said - "Eric Pickles has revealed his true colours as an extreme centraliser. His statement flies in the face of the coalition government's commitment to localism. It appears that local services must be provided according to Eric Pickles' demands..
"Arrangements for bin collection and recycling should be determined by local people according to local preferences, not by an increasingly bossy Secretary of State".