Charging residents for garden waste collections will help Stockport Council avoid becoming bankruptcy, the authority has claimed.

The town hall shared plans last week to bring in a £59 annual levy for green bin garden waste collections – the highest amount in Greater Manchester – with a discounted £39 fee for those who get council tax support. It could mean residents have to apply for a permit to get their waste collected, with blue bin collections also changing to every four weeks rather than fortnightly as they are now.

Weekly food-only green bin collections would continue with no extra charge for residents under the plans. The changes could save around £2m and help Stockport plug a gap in its finances, with the town hall having to save £50m by 2027/28.

Opposition councillors criticised the proposal and claimed it could lead to more fly-tipping in the borough. But the council said it has to balance the books and does not want to close libraries or cancel essential services.

Mark Roberts, deputy leader at the council, said Stockport's finances have been "cut to the bone" by national government and explained that the town hall has to make difficult decisions.

Stockport town hall (Image - Nub News)

"We know local people do not want to be charged for their garden waste, and we don't want to charge for it, but we have to consider unpalatable things to keep the council sustainable in the longer term and delivering on core services," he said.

"We don't want to end up like Labour-run Birmingham or the former Conservative-run Woking, who have both gone bankrupt.

"All councillors must be completely honest with local residents, we just can't continue as we are, we are cut to the bone already."

Stockport Labour group leader David Meller said introducing a new "bin tax" would hit residents in the pocket at a time when households are already under pressure.

He added: "Stockport's proposed £59 green bin charge is notably higher than what other councils in Greater Manchester are considering, and exceeds the fees already charged by councils like Canterbury and York.

(Image - Nub News)

"We are deeply concerned that such a policy could result in an increase in fly-tipping, further harming our community."

Conservative councillor Peter Crossen said some Stockport households may not be able to afford the charge and could end up burning garden waste instead.

"With residents going through difficult financial times right now, many will find this unaffordable," he said.

"And with the added potential for an increase in fly tipping and people burning their garden waste, it confuses me how this council can claim to be fighting hard on environmental issues such as climate change?"

The proposal to charge Stockport residents for garden waste collections will be debated by councillors at scrutiny meetings before it moves ahead.

The council sets its annual budget in February and is preparing a range of savings to balance the books, including a decision on whether to raise council tax.

Trafford and Bolton councils have also shared plans to bring in a £45 yearly charge for garden waste.

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