The Labour Group has increased council taxes by 32 per cent over the last two years and now the Liberal Democrats also want to force up council tax.

Coun Michael Dickenson (Letters July 11) states that kerbside recycling collections have been a success; they have which is why they have been extended to other areas. He then accuses the Conservatives of abolishing the kerbside collection of tins; this is untrue as the decision was taken by the Labour Group as part of their service delivery and budget strategy for the coming year. Coun Dickenson also knows full well why the decision was taken because he was at the same meeting as me when I asked the question why the council was no longer collecting tins. The fact is that there is no market for tin whereas there is for paper.

Given that the council has to pay Landfill Tax to the Government, it is to the financial benefit of Swindon's council tax payers to recycle paper but to put tin in landfill sites. In future years, as the market for tin changes and the Landfill Tax increases, it may make financial sense to change the strategy.

Conservatives are just as much in favour of recycling as the Liberal Democrats but whereas the Liberal Democrats pursue the objective dogmatically, we actually look to see how much it will cost the council tax payer. So yes, the council can extend kerb-side collection of tins, thereby increasing its costs but, yet again, Swindon's council tax payers will have to pick up the tab.

Coun David Renard

Haydon Wick