AXMINSTER & EAST DEVON: PEOPLE in Devon are being invited to share their views on the county council’s plans to make savings to its waste management service.

The changes, which could save the service around £265,000 next year, are part of the £100million savings the authority has to make by 2017 in response to spending reductions imposed by the Government.

The six-week consultation sets out proposals to ask residents to pay towards the cost of disposing of waste materials from the repair or improvement of their houses, including uPVC windows and door, baths or shower trays, shower screens, insulation materials, roofing felt and uPVC downpipes and guttering.

The charge is likely to be around £3.50 per item, which will help cover the council’s costs of handling and disposing of them.

Councillor Roger Croad, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment Services, said: “Over the three years we’ve managed to save around £4.7million by changing the way we manage our waste in Devon, which is great news.

“But we’ve still got more savings to make, and this means we must continue to look closely at what services we have to provide and those we do on a discretional basis so we can use our resources most effectively. This is an opportunity for the public to give us their view on the proposals, how they feel this will impact on them, and whether they have any suggestions of alternative ideas to save money.”

The consultation on the proposed budget savings for the waste management service will close on November 19.

For more information and to take part in the consultation visit new.devon.gov.uk/wastebudget