Councillors challenge decision on domestic refuse service

At last evening’s meeting of the local authority councillors agreed to use a seldom used act of the local Government to request the service be kept open.

However, the process to wind it down is already in place and letters have been sent to the council’s 10 thousand customers advising them of the plans.

The Council will also begin advertising this Thursday for expressions of interest from private companies to take over the service from November.

In a debate that lasted almost 4 hours, city councillors expressed their disappointment that they had only been informed of the plans last Friday.

City Manager Brendan McGrath explained to the chamber that he had taken legal advice and the decision to close the service was an executive one.

The Council voted to submit a section 140 notice to the city manager which requires seven day notice, and a day for further consultation must now be organised.

City Councillor Collette Connolly, who put forward the motion, is a city council bin customer herself, and says she still has many unanswered questions