WEST Devon Borough Councillors have decided that they will not be charging for their garden waste collection service.

Making the decision whether to charge their residents or not for collecting garden waste, has been very difficult for councillors. This is the second time that the item has been on the council agenda and it has been fully debated and explored by a working group and by the council’s Hub Committee.

The decision was difficult for them because they were being asked to decide between continuing with a free service that was not statutory, and charging for an opt in collection services which would support the council financially.

Councillors had also discussed what the impact on residents might be, who would lose out and how the service might run.

This week all of the councillors were asked to make their decision and they decided not to introduce a charge for this service by a vote of 18 against and nine in favour of introducing a charge.

The garden waste collection service will form part of the package that West Devon Borough Council intend go out to tender with later this year, when they look to renew their waste collection contract for the whole borough. The service will continue to be funded through residents’ council tax payments.