Fiery exchanges between councillors as green bin charge decision comes under spotlight

Leader accuses opposition of 'cheap publicity' during examination of green bin charge decision

Sam Greenway - Local Democracy Reporter | Monday 17th February 2025 9:16pm

There were raised voices with accusations of councillors avoiding scrutiny and seeking “cheap publicity” at a fiery council meeting. 

The decision to charge Solihull residents £49 a year for previously-free garden waste collections came under the spotlight at a special 'call-in' meeting.

The decision to introduce the charge from July was made at December's cabinet meeting.

But at the start of the call-in meeting, the leader of Conservative-run Solihull Council, Coun Ian Courts, said December’s decision did not result in a change.

“What brings about charging is the budget process,” he said.

Liberal Democrat councillor Laura McCarthy said: “The decision has not been scrutinised in the proper way and in fact when I and another councillor raised questions about charging we were both assured charges would not be introduced any time soon.

“Three months later cabinet approved the decision.

“In the aftermath (of cabinet) residents were contacting us in their droves, angry.

“They were complaining there had been no scrutiny, no consultation bar the very end of a survey that had come out about something else – in which residents overwhelmingly said they disagreed with this.”  

Leader of the Liberal Democrat group Councillor Ade Adeyamo said: “One of things that has been said is the decision is not binding. 

“I think every councillor in Solihull will be shocked to hear that.

“If a decision is made in cabinet, that’s it.”

Coun Max McLoughlin – the leader of the Green group – said: “You can't say the budget will mop it all up because that is a very dangerous procedure to start following.

“I'm concerned for the future if major decisions just get thrown into the budget.” 

Putting the ruling group's case Coun Courts said: “This call in is flawed. 

“There is a failure to understand the role of cabinet.

“We have consistently rejected charging for green bins, we get to a point where we have to make some difficult decisions.

“Only those who use it pay – if anything we are saving money for those more hard pressed.

“Cabinet gave its support to charging, signposting the likely direction of travel.

“But the decision is for full council along with every other decision that has to be made in relation to the budget.”

He questioned if the call-in was being used “as an attempt to try and slow down the process and give a bit of cheap publicity”.

“We did do a consultation exercise – certainly there was a majority of people that said they wouldn't want a charge,” he said.

“If opposition councillors have taken the view (they) are not going to bother asking questions at full council because we can get some political capital out of having a call-in and it will be good for our leaflets then fine. 

“But this administration is going to take responsible decisions in the benefit of this borough.”      

Cabinet member Coun Andy Mackiewicz's said it was “a bit sad” opposition members at cabinet “don't feel capable of scrutinising”, which led to an angry response from Coun Adeyamo.

“That is personal, that is not on,” the Liberal Democrat councillor said.

The meeting then broke down with exchanges between the pair before Coun Mackiewicz said: “Why are you bringing this forward?

“It is purely political.”

At the end of the two-hour meeting the call-in committee voted four votes to three they were satisfied with the decision-making process.

The meeting was held at the Civic Suite on Tuesday, February 11.

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