Scrapping electric bin lorries saves taxpayers more than £6.2 million

The recently elected Reform UK administration had already identified £2 million of savings by cancelling the previous administration’s decision to buy electric bin lorries.

Now, it says that the estimated £4.2 million cost of installing the charging infrastructure for the bin lorries had not been budgeted for; money that still had to be found by the council if the electrification plan had gone ahead.

The savings form part of the new administration’s commitment to review spending commitments inherited from the previous council leadership and ensure value for money for residents.

Jonathan Gullis, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said:

The previous administration wanted electric bin lorries. What they didn’t budget for was the £4.2 million needed to charge them.
 

That’s the difference between political posturing and common sense.
 

Reform UK has already saved taxpayers more than £2 million by scrapping the electric bin lorry plans and another £4.2 million by axing the charging infrastructure bill.
 

That’s over £6.2 million of taxpayers’ money saved. Residents work hard for their money and we won’t waste it on costly Net Zero gimmicks.”

The council says the savings will help support its wider objective of restoring financial discipline and ensuring public money is focused on core services and priorities for local residents.

Graham Shaw, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, said:

The previous administration was heading towards a multi-million-pound bill that residents would ultimately have been expected to fund.
 

That’s not responsible financial management. That’s asking taxpayers to pick up the tab.
 

Reform UK was elected to stop waste and protect taxpayers' money. We've stopped these plans, saved over £6.2 million and shown that every penny spent by the council must deliver value for residents."