HITCHIN: The council are considering charging residents extra money for new bins.

North Herts Council are deliberating whether to hike the cost of new bins by an extra £5 to £40 a per year.

They are also set to charge taxpayers £40 for a new bin and £25 to refurbish damaged ones.

NHC's finance, audit and risk committee have been busy studying ways to increase revenues, and are currently looking at leveraging income from their garden waste service through the provision of bins to new customers.

Hitchin Nub News has studied relevant council documents as part of our ongoing commitment to cover local politics and the issues that matter to you, our loyal readership.

In the dossier labelled Revenue Budget Savings and Investments New Efficiency Proposals, Appendix B the council details: "The cost of bins has increased, due to polymer shortage and supply chain issues.

"New garden waste customers are charged for the delivery of their new bins. This charge is currently £35 and it is proposed, from the start of the next subscription period, to increase this to £40 to ensure cost recovery."

The council are also set to charge £40 for a new bin and £25 for a refurbished bin.

The document continues, by stating: [I]"Garden Waste Service income from the provision of replacement bins. It is proposed to charge residents for the replacement of damaged bins to reduce the number of bin replacements for minor defects.

"It is proposed to charge £40 for a new bin and £25 for a refurbished bin.

"Additional income value assumes a 20% drop in the number of requests received for replacement bins."

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