A DECISION to move to fortnightly bin collections has been called “rushed” and “against normal procedures”.

Weekly bin collections in Adur and Worthing are to be scrapped from next September in a move to boost the area’s recycling rate.

But some councillors have now formally objected to the decision, claiming it was made against the council’s own rules.

They claim there was not enough time to discuss the proposal as it was not labelled a “key decision” by the monitoring officer.

Councillor Les Alden, leader of the Labour opposition on Adur Council, said: “If it is determined to be a key decision you need 28 days for people to give their opinions.

“But it wasn’t and we only had about five days.

“I am not saying it is a bad decision – it just needs to be fully explored.”

A legal team, not councillors, will decide if a matter is a key decision.

The change was agreed by Adur and Worthing councils at a meeting last Tuesday.

The scheme, now the practice of the majority of councils in England and Wales, aims to bring the area’s recycling rate up to the national Government target of 50 per cent.

It is expected to save both authorities £594,000 a year.

Cllr Alden said: “This is an important decision which affects all residents. There needs to be a comparison with a wide range of other councils as to whether this reduced service improves recycling rates as is claimed.”

The current recycling rates are 37 per cent in Worthing and 35 per cent in Adur.

It is believed the move to fortnightly collections will make people think about what they are putting in bins and bring up the recycling rate.

Conservative councillor Neil Parkin is backing the scheme, along with the majority of councillors.

He said: “If they wish to challenge it, that is their choice and is democracy at work.

“But I would like to know how they are they going to get our recycling up 50 per cent – I think that is a fair thing to ask.

“To reach that we needed to do something drastic and it is something 75 per cent councils have successfully done.”