RESIDENT access cards to Forthbank recycling centre could be done away with permanently as Clacks Council looks to retain its current photo ID scheme.

A meeting of the Place Committee will this week be asked to approve the move, which would drop the concept of resident access cards in favour of arrangements which have been in place during the pandemic.

Before Covid-19, an access scheme was in place to control entry to Forthbank Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) in Alloa.

After the centre was reopened following the lockdown of 2020, arrangements changed with an online booking system.

A requirement of that system is that residents must verify their booking when attending by producing photographic ID that match the booking details.

Documents to be tabled on Thursday, January 20, explained the advantages of the current photo ID system and highlighted the shortcomings of the access card arrangements.

As an anti-fraud measure, there have been issues around the access card, for instance because they were being shared with individuals who were not entitled to use the centre.

Other problems included cards being used by contractors carrying out renovation works at a householder's home in a bid to avoid commercial charges.

Replacing lost cards and renewing out of date ones also leads to administration costs.

If the council was to reintroduce the access cards, the cost would be around £30,000 a year, excluding back office costs.

Feedback from the public shows residents prefer the current arrangements, staff at the centre have greater confidence the site is not being misused and overall cost of waste disposal should decrease.

However, one issue was highlighted with reports from a number of users, particularly serving and former police officers, that they were receiving "demands" to show their driver's license in order to gain access.

Council papers said: "For clarification the council has no legal right to do this, it being the preserve of law enforcement officers.

"However, this does not stop the council from adopting a general principle of requiring photographic ID to use the HWRC, and early in 2021 amended guidance was produced on the range of documents that could be used to demonstrate proof of identity, and residence in Clackmannanshire."

Controls are in place at the centre as it provides a free service to people, but not businesses or tradespeople, who are resident in the Wee County.

Documents explained it is difficult to quantify the financial burden on the local authority, but Fife Council recently estimated the misuse of its centres costs £1.5million each year.