Kevin Lake (Former Conservative Teignbridge Councillor for Kenn Valley)
The Claim: Lib Dems broke their promise to freeze the green bin charges.
This claim was made by Kevin Lake (Former Conservative Teignbridge Councillor for Kenn Valley) in a letter to the Dawlish Gazette on 22 Feb 2020.
The evidence:
It is correct that the Liberal Democrats promised to freeze green bin charges for two years in their manifesto for the May 2019 by election.
A £5 rise appeared on annual bills which some may not have received until August 2019, after that election, but this change in the fee applied from 1st April 2019, BEFORE The Lib Dem administration was elected. The Budget including this rise was approved by the Conservative executive on 7 February 2019 with Kevin Lake present, and included in the budget which Kevin Lake voted for at full council on 28 February 2019, while the council was still under Conservatives control and the portfolio holder for waste management at the time was Kevin Lake.
The very same Kevin Lake that later wrote to the paper claiming Lib Dems had increased the charge.
Budget proposed by executive, Kevin Lake Present:
https://democracy.teignbridge.gov.uk/documents/s3487/Minutes%2007022019%20Executive.pdf
Budget approved by full council, Kevin lake present:
The letter was responded to the following week.
Conclusion:
| Pants on fire: | Lib Dems did not break their promise to freeze the green bin charges for two years. |
This was a while ago, but that does not make it OK.