Oadby Schools Lose Free Waste Collections After Conservative Cuts

The latest fallout from government cuts is that Oadby schools will lose free waste collections. This means more pressure on school budgets as they have to find the money for this basic service.

Up to now, Liberal Democrats on Oadby and Wigston Borough Council had been able to provide free rubbish collections for schools, helping them to spend more money on educating our children rather than on paying for recycling to be taken away.

A long history of recycling in Oadby

Oadby and Wigston had been able to continue to provide free recycling collections from schools, where other local councils had not, because the Liberal Democrats had ensured that the council was one of the first to offer kerbside recycling collections.

By being one of the first, the Liberal Democrats were able to set up the council’s own sorting centre. This allowed the service to make money, which was used to help provide the funds for extra services like free school rubbish collections and free garden waste collections for residents.

Theresa May’s Conservative government continue to make huge cuts to local council funding and Council Tax is not allowed to be increased enough to cover this loss.

As a result, Conservative-run Leicestershire County Council decided to change how they funded recycling, which has meant Oadby and Wigston won’t be able to keep the recycling sorting centre.

This, together with cuts to Oadby and Wigston’s money from the government has meant that the council can no longer afford to keep school waste collections free.

We should be encouraging recycling, not charging for it

The Conservatives on County Council are in a complete mess on this. Tory cabinet member Blake Pain is promoting recycling in schools but at the same time, he voted for the changes that led to Oadby schools having to pay to get it collected.

With the damage caused by plastics in our oceans and the need to recycle as much of our rubbish as we can, these actions show how unimportant our environment is to the Conservatives.

Schools Face Money Pressures

The news comes as independent research shows over 1 in 14 primary schools are running deficit budgets in the East Midlands. Our Oadby schools will have even less money to spend on teaching as a result of cuts by Theresa May’s government and decisions by the Conservatives at County Hall.

Garden Waste Charges from April 2018

The Borough Council has taken the difficult decision to charge a yearly fee of £35 for fortnightly garden waste collections from April. The collections will become a year-round service, so there is no longer a winter break in collections. Limited help is available if you are in receipt of Discretionary Council Tax Support.

You can apply for the scheme online at the Council’s web site, by contacting their Customer Service Team on 0116 288 8961 or by visiting their Customer Service Centre at 40 Bell Street, Wigston, LE18 1AD.

Why is this happening?

Councils don’t legally have to offer a free garden waste service. In the past few decades, most councils have provided the service because local residents wanted it and the councils had the funds to do it.

Oadby and Wigston Borough Council was one of the first councils to offer kerbside recycling collections. By being one of the first, the Liberal Democrats were able to set up the council’s own sorting centre. This allowed the service to make money, which was used to help provide the funds for extra services like the free garden waste collections.

Theresa May’s Conservative government continue to make huge cuts to local council funding and Council Tax is not allowed to be increased enough to cover this loss.

As a result Conservative-run Leicestershire County Council decided to change how they funded recycling, which has meant Oadby and Wigston won’t be able to keep the recycling sorting centre.

This, together with cuts to Oadby and Wigston’s money from the government has meant that the council can no longer afford to keep garden waste collections free.

What are the alternatives?

County Council refuse and recycling tips take garden waste. You can also compost at home: Leicestershire County Council recommend Get Composting for subsidised composters.

Help for those on low incomes

In certain cases, you may be able to get help with the cost of the garden waste charge if you are in receipt of Discretionary Council Tax Support. Please contact Oadby and Wigston’s Customer Service Team on 0116 288 8961 if you think this applies to you.

Cold Weather Payments

The cold weather this week has triggered a Cold Weather Payment if you receive certain benefits. Although it should be paid automatically, it is worth checking – just in case.

In LE2, we’ve had temperatures below freezing for 7 days in a row. This means that a “Cold Weather Payment” of £25 should be paid to help with the extra costs of heating, if you receive certain benefits.

Full details of eligibility are the Government’s website. Although the payment is automatic, the site also tells you of some circumstances when you may need to manually claim the Cold Weather Payment.