Communal bins require support of the residents (From The Argus)

Communal bins require support of the residents

9:53am Friday 4th January 2008 in Search

The Argus again highlighted concerns from residents about the imposition of communal bins across the city centre (The Argus, December 31). The issue of the significant loss of parking spaces was raised, as well as other factors like the impact on recycling and concerns about locating the bins in historic areas.

History shows that the bins work best where the residents actually want them, and that no area should see them imposed against the will of residents. The council will undertake its "consultation" later this month. To follow this, there needs to be a fair and open decision-making process so that residents can assess how their views were taken into account - especially if the decision is to go-ahead with the scheme.

At the same time,Tory and Labour councillors are insistent on scrapping the council's current committee system in favour of a centralised executive system. This will put power into the hands of a few, even though the council has no overall majority. It is likely to happen as soon as May, whereas they could actually wait a further year to bring about this change.

Will the decision on communal bins be made under the more democratic committee system before the change or will it be taken by a new centralised executive system which has yet to be seen to be open, democratic and fair?

This is a key factor as to whether we can have any kind of faith in the council's consultation process.

• Paul Elgood, Liberal Democrat councillor for Brunswick and Adelaide Brighton and Hove City Council