Lib Dems call for Government Minister to scrap Surrey’s Tory Tip Tax

A Liberal Democrat county councillor in Surrey has written to a government minister asking him to scrap Surrey County Council's unpopular charges for taking household waste to Community Recycling Centres (CRCs).

Cllr Stephen Cooksey, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Highways & Environment, has written to Marcus Jones, Minister for Local Government, as part of his long-running campaign against the charges. The unpopular fees were introduced by the Conservative-run County Council in September 2016 despite a consultation in which residents made clear their opposition to the charges and their fears that fly-tipping would increase across the county as a consequence.

Cllr Cooksey said today:

"In October last year I wrote to the Department of Communities & Local Government (DCLG) pointing out that legislation passed by the Coalition government in 2015 prohibits local authorities from charging residents for the disposal of household waste. In response, the DCLG confirmed that charging for the disposal of household waste from DIY was illegal and advised me that a Minister could intervene if the charges imposed by a Council were regarded as 'over-zealous'. Residents also have the option of taking the County Council to court to challenge the charges.

"I do believe that these charges are over-zealous and that it is sensible for the Minister to intervene to stop this practice rather than to expect residents to seek legal solutions. That is why I am taking this matter to the highest level."

"On the evidence that I have seen I am of the opinion that the charges imposed by Surrey County Council for disposal of DIY waste are illegal and that the Conservatives should axe the their tip tax and reimburse residents immediately. I call upon Marcus Jones, Minister for Local Government, to intervene in this case and scrap these unfair charges."