IN what is something of a surprise turnaround, Thurrock Council's leading Conservative group look set to reverse a plan to scrap the borough garden waste collections.

Papers released today (Thursday, 8 June) ahead of meetings next week of the council's Cleaner, Greener, Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the ruling cabinet show the council is likely, for an interim period at least, to bring in a system of collecting blue (recycling) and brown (garden waste) bin waste in fortnightly rotation.

It is one of a number of suggested options for the cash-strapped council which has faced huge criticism for its decision to scrap the non-statutory brown bin collection service.

The others include confirming the whole system will be scrapped, implementing a system of charges, alternating on a monthly brown bin and recycling collection or doing nothing.

Cabinet members are being recommended to go for the fortnightly option, which is now a viable choice as £130,000 has now been 'found' in the budgeting process to deliver the change.

The full paper going before council can be viewed via this link.

The cabinet were not due to consider the issue until June, but it appears the wight of public consternation as forced their hand and the issue has been brought forward.

Announcing the change today, council leader and environment portfolio holder Cllr Andrew Jefferies, said: "I am determined that the work will take place to create a long-term solution and ensure that a regular and reliable service is provided to residents while we do that.

"I have worked closely with the chief executive and managing director commissioner and senior officers and stressed how important it is that we are able to consistently provide this vital service to residents.

"What is clear is that we are currently unable to effectively collect all three streams of household waste every week. We have focused on providing a consistent service collecting refuse and recycling bins and collections have recently taken place as scheduled.

"It is important that we quickly carry out a full review of the way that household waste collections take place to ensure that we are making the best use of the resources available to us to deliver a service that meets residents' needs, that is why I felt it was important to bring proposals to Cabinet as soon as possible.

"In the meantime, we will look to implement an interim solution for the collection of refuse, recycling and garden waste while this longer work takes place.

"Next week, following discussions at Overview and Scrutiny on Tuesday, a paper will go to cabinet on Wednesday, where a decision will be made."

Brown bin garden waste collections are taking place this week – with resdeints told it would be the last time they are collected. Blue bin collections will resume from Monday 12 June, with brown collections suspended while committee discussions are carried out.

The council says: "More information will be shared when the outcomes of those discussions are known."

Today's news has been greeted as a 'victory for common sense' by the opposition Labour group spokesperson for the environment, Cllr Val Morris-Cook.

She told Nub News: "That is what everybody has been saying. It's the common sense option.

"Thank-goodness they seem to have taken a few tips. It's a matter I addressed with the new CEO Dr Dave Smith last week in a joint member meeting, and it appears he listened.

"It wasn't rocket science. It's rubbish. Rubbish in, rubbish out. How much money have we wasted on consultants and other experts before arriving at a solution that the residents knew was the best option all along?

"I welcome this change and the opportunity it now creates to bring together a fully integrated waste collection service. It gives the council some time now to fully engage with the workforce who do the job, who understand what some of the day-to-day problems are and to work to get a sustainable service which is what we deserve.

"Can we all now get together, work together to understand we put the right things in the right bins and we have a proper collection routine.

"This also puts responsibility on residents to ensure collections can get in and out of areas and residents rather than routes being blocked by bad parking from selfish drivers. They have a responsibility report these things and the council must then do its part to enforce punishment.

"This is a collective thing. We want to keep this service and to do that everyone needs to work together and listen to what everyone has to say.

"Maybe that's an important lesson for the administration to learn about a range of subjects as well."