Council survey fails to address key issues

2.47.37pm GMT Fri 23rd Nov 2007

The Liberal Democrats are conducting their own environmental survey across East Dunbartonshire

Jo Swinson has branded East Dunbartonshire Council's recycling and refuse survey a waste of money, because it fails to ask key questions over residents' preferences on frequency of refuse collections.

The survey, which is being delivered to households across East Dunbartonshire, is costing local taxpayers £32,000. At the same time, the Liberal Democrats are conducting their own wide-ranging environmental survey of residents, at no cost to the taxpayer.

Jo Swinson said:

"East Dunbartonshire Council is spending £32,000 of taxpayers' money on an environment survey that ignores the issue of weekly or fortnightly collections. The issue has been dominating East Dunbartonshire for months, but they have chosen to omit this key question from the survey.

"Liberal Democrat Councillors pressed for a question seeking views on frequency of refuse collections to be included in the survey, but this was rejected by Councillors from the other parties.

"The Council stated their plans to return to weekly bins six months ago, and clearly they have no intention of consulting on the real issue at stake. While Councillor Eric Gotts was right to say that the previous administration should have done more to involve the public in the changes to refuse and recycling collections, the new Labour-Tory administration can hardly be proud of this token effort at consultation.

"By contrast, the Liberal Democrats in East Dunbartonshire are delivering a survey to households that is costing the taxpayer nothing, and is asking people for their views on all the major local environmental issues, not just those that suit the Council administration."

Related Link:

Lib Dems - action on the environment