Stockport Labour made the decision yesterday to vote against the Lib Dem’s budget.
Central to our decision was the deeply unpopular proposal to introduce a charge for garden waste collection – a move that we believe is both unfair and financially irresponsible.
During the biggest ever budget consultation, 7,000 Stockport residents—equivalent to 1 in 25 working-age people in the borough—expressed their disagreement or strong opposition to a proposed charge for garden waste removal.
Stockport Labour have listened to our residents, while the Liberal Democrats and Green Councillors appear to have ignored this clear message.
The proposed garden waste charge is effectively a hidden council tax hike. For Band B residents, this equates to an extra 3% increase, for Band C residents it is 2.7%, and for Band A residents, it is a staggering 3.59%. We believe that this charge is likely to rise over time, as seen in other boroughs, leaving Stockport residents to bear the brunt of this additional financial burden.
Waste collection is a basic necessity, not a luxury. Introducing charges for green waste collection will disproportionately affect lower-income households and discourage responsible waste disposal. It is a policy that risks increasing fly-tipping and reducing recycling rates.
We’re especially disappointed that Green Party councillors chose to back this budget. As a party that claims to champion environmental sustainability and fairness, we expected them to see the damage this garden waste charge could do to recycling rates. By voting for the budget, they’ve not only gone against their own green principles but also sided with an administration pushing through an unfair policy. It’s hard not to wonder what their voters will think—can the Green Party really be trusted to stand up for residents on key issues like environmental responsibility?
Stockport deserves better. We’re disappointed that the budget passed, but we will always continue to fight for responsible governance and put residents first.