FORTNIGHTLY rubbish collections for Malvern Hills residents moved a step closer this week when the district council's executive committee voted in favour of the change.

At the committee's meeting on Tuesday, members voted five-nil with three abstentions to save £250,000 from its waste and recycling budget by switching to a fortnightly collection from April 2018.

The move, if approved by the full council next week, will see households issued with new black wheelie bins, which will be emptied once every two weeks. Currently, rubbish is collected weekly in black bin bags and recycling on alternate weeks.

At this week's meeting, independent members of the committee criticised the proposal, saying there was not enough information and calling for the decision to be delayed.

Cllr David Harrison said: "I'm just very uneasy about this. We've got 13 months to implement this, but we have to make the decisions now and next week without knowing anything about it. I think we have plenty of time to sort it out if we delayed making a decision for three months."

He also called for a consultation with residents before a decision is made. "Let's give it a little bit of time. Let's fin out what the people want," he said.

Cllr Sarah Rouse said: "I'm uncomfortable with not knowing the complete figures."

Cllr Mick Davies said: "What's the rush? There sorts of changes are significant."

But portfolio holder Bronwen Behan said: "In my opinion the report is quite clear about where the savings are coming from."

Phil Merrick, the council's head of economy and communities, said the proposal emerged after the council explored privatising the waste collection service in collaboration with Wychavon District Council. But the three companies that made tenders were all more expensive than the existing in-house service.

He said: "The good news is that we've got a cost-effective service that the private sector can't improve on. The bad news is that we still have to make savings."

The council’s approved business plan requires £100,000 of saving in 2017/18, rising to £250,000 the following year. If these savings are not achieved from the waste and recycling service, then they would need to be found from other services.

The full council meeting is on Tuesday, February 21, at the Council Chamber, Avenue Road, Malvern, starting at 7pm.