Garden Waste Fees - 50% increase

[malumbu]

One thing we are happy to pay for.  Choose your battles, and this isn't one of mine

[CPR Dave]

That's because Southwark council don't collect your garden waste. 

  On 01/12/2023 at 07:46, legalalien said:

Just reading through the proposed council income stream adjustments in the budget going to next week’s Cabinet meeting.

They are struggling to balance the budget.

Looks like garden waste charges are going up to £80 next year if approved.

 

https://moderngov.southwark.gov.uk/documents/s117577/Appendix C Income.pdf

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£40 in 2022 to £80 next year.

Think I'll just get a bigger green bin amd putthe garden waste in there.

Leaves from council trees that they don't bother sweeping will get dumped in the middle of their road.

 

[vladi]

It begs the question................... what unnecessary expenditures and/or useless projects is Southwark spending  money on that necessitates such a massive hike ?

One such that springs to mind and that is the so-called "Dulwich Square" where it paid performers to "entertain" the well-heeled  local residents of DV.
Any others that get your goat?

[alice]

Take a look at some of the cleaner, greener fun stuff. 

[Sue]

  On 04/12/2023 at 16:44, CPR Dave said:

 

Leaves from council trees that they don't bother sweeping will get dumped in the middle of their road.

 

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But they would have to sweep them every day at this time of year!

The council swept Ulverscroft Road leaves, put them in bags and collected them - but now, obviously, a load more leaves which have fallen since are lying on the pavement.

I think it's somewhat unfair to say they "don't bother" sweeping them, unless you have evidence of that.

 

[personannrose]

  On 04/12/2023 at 19:01, vladi said:

It begs the question................... what unnecessary expenditures and/or useless projects is Southwark spending  money on that necessitates such a massive hike ?

One such that springs to mind and that is the so-called "Dulwich Square" where it paid performers to "entertain" the well-heeled  local residents of DV.
Any others that get your goat?

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Hi Vladi,

What proof do you have that the council paid the performers?

[CPR Dave]

The evidence is all over east dulwich!   

 

also If you look on east dulwich Road there are two signs up at the park complaining that the road has not been swept for four months. That's the middle of summer when there were no leaves.

[vladi]

  On 04/12/2023 at 21:06, personannrose said:

Hi Vladi,

What proof do you have that the council paid the performers?

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Proof is in the form of a response to my FOI request to Southwark in 2021. Their reply was as follows:-
 

Thank you for your request for information that was received on 13 September 2021 in which you requested:

The following performances have taken place at "Dulwich Square" that have been funded by the Council. These were
Saturday, 14 Aug, 12 noon -Sarah Moule and band
Saturday, 21 August, 12 noon - Peter Black: Virtuoso Guitarist
Saturday, 21 August, 1pm ish - Calton String Quintet
Saturday, 28 August, 12 noon - Mazaika Gypsy Duo
Saturday, 28 August, 1pm ish - Trombone Jerome and the Homies
Saturday, 4 September, 12 noon - GDS Unlimited
My request is for the funding that Southwark provided for each of those events and which should be inclusive all costs including the following
a) Fees paid to the performers
b) Fees for installation and provision of sound amplification equipment
c) Fees for installation and provision of the canvas pergola

We can confirm that this group was awarded £3000 from the Neighbourhoods Fund in the South multi ward area.

The only expenditure breakdown that is available, relates to budgeted costs that the group provide when they applied (table below).

Item of expenditure	Breakdown of Costs
Insurance & Marketing	£   350
Staging & Sound	£   900
Acts/Performers	£1,750
Total	£3,000

 

 

If you have any queries or concerns then please contact us using the above details.

 

Further information is available through the Information Commissioner at www.ico.org.uk.

Yours sincerely

 

Jamie Corner
Information Systems Officer

[Froglander]

Is the charge going up this year?  

[Guest]

southwark council is Ripping off the Residents of southwark.......the best thing to do is if possible 2 or 3 residents get together and pay and use the the service.

[OutOfFocus]

  On 13/01/2024 at 18:24, dulwich1955 said:

southwark council is Ripping off the Residents of southwark...

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Playing devils 👿 advocate. Southwark council are struggling to balance books and need to cover costs.

[ianr]

  On 13/01/2024 at 18:24, dulwich1955 said:

southwark council is Ripping off the Residents of southwark

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The accounts are open annually to inspection for  a month at the time of the annual audit, usually in the summer --
  a good opportunity to collect and publish your evidence.  https://www.southwark.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/key-documents/statement-of-accounts

[CPR Dave]

You can download the unaudited accounts there too.

There's about a 2 year delay getting the audits completed.

[tedfudge]

• Fee rises include the garden waste charge going from £60 to £80 per annum, raising planning fees, increasing the price of leisure services and commercial property rents.

[Spartacus]

Interesting to see, that despite Southwark claiming they have had to cut services year on year due to austerity impacting their budget, the number of full time employees has risen each year which adds to their wage bill. 

Any business that faces reduced income cuts their cloth (and staff numbers) appropriately.

Source : https://www.southwark.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/equality-and-diversity/employment-and-equalities

you have to download each PDF and look through them for employee numbers.