Kathleen O'Meara (Labour)

I move amendment No. 15:

In page 62, to delete lines 29 to 33.

This amendment returns to the thorny issue of bin charges and the refusal by councils to collect refuse from people whose charges are overdue. The response to that problem in the Bill borders on the draconian. The council should be limited. We are not saying it should not have power to take action against someone who refuses to pay the charges but giving the councils power to refuse to collect household waste is going too far. The amendment seeks to dilute the power given in the Bill, limiting it to the council being able to pursue an individual in the courts for the amount due.