A MOVE to retain kerbside glass collections for those who qualify for assistance received the final stamp of approval at Clacks Council last week.

It was a technical but necessary exercise at last Thursday’s, June 27, full meeting after the Place Committee reached agreement over the issue earlier in the month.

The recommendations, which will see kerbside blue box collections for glass retained for those who qualify for the Assisted Collection Service, received the nod at a meeting of all elected representatives as it amended the budget.

For those who are fit and able, the service will be scrapped and replaced by glass collection points in communities.

The changes to the original plans, which would have seen collections stopped at every household in favour of the glass banks, came after locals voiced concerns for the elderly and disabled.

It led to a delay in the roll-out of new arrangements and keeping the uplifts for those who need it the most will cost around £45,000.

Wee County residents who successfully apply for the assisted collections, which will only be considered if there is no able person in the household at all, will see their glass uplifted by an external contractor.

It will come at a reduced frequency on a four-weekly cycle.

The full scrapping of the kerbside collection service was agreed in the 2018-19 council budget for a £159,000 saving.

As last week’s move amended the budget, Labour leader Councillor Dave Clark asked the chamber whether there would be compensatory savings to offset the £45,000 cost.

He was told by the SNP’s Cllr Craig Holden, who was the administration’s leading man looking into the matter and called for a detailed report into the issue when the roll out was delayed, that June’s committee meeting already outlined it all.

The original council papers which detailed various options for the latest changes to the plans said: “The recommended option […] would result in an estimated £45k reduction in the previously approved saving which will require to be managed across the wider service during the financial year.”