A proposed charge by St Albans District Council for the collection of green waste may not apply to all residents.

A council committee has said some aspects of the proposed charge should be reconsidered.

In November, the council announced plans to start charging residents £45 a year to have their green wheeled bin or reusable sacks emptied.

The Lib Dem-run council says the proposal, which is already in practice in several districts in Hertfordshire, is in response to the adverse impact the pandemic has had on its finances.

On January 14, the council's environment committee scrutinised the plans and decided they wanted the council's Cabinet to revisit some of the plans.

This included considering whether the charge is fair on elderly, disabled, and low income households.

Chairman of the committee, Conservative Annie Brewster said: "The scrutiny committee understood that a charge for the fortnightly garden waste collections is one way of trying to mitigate for some of the losses the public health emergency has put on council finances.

"After a lively discussion, a majority of councillors were in favour of the council’s Cabinet reconsidering aspects of these plans before they are implemented.

"In particular, there was concern that although many members of our community will be able to afford the charge, those on low incomes could struggle with an additional expense at this time."

Cllr Brewster's colleague and party leader, Cllr Mary Maynard, meanwhile has said her party would scrap "miserly" plans to introduce garden waste collection if her party takes control of the council at the next election.

Following the scrutiny committee meeting, St Albans district council leader Chris White said: "This council is in a dire situation thanks to years of reduced support from central government and the impact of the pandemic. "Collecting green waste costs us over £600,000 every year. Introducing this charge - equivalent to 87p per week or £1.74 per collection - will help us to maintain other essential services.

Portfolio holder for waste collection, Cllr Anthony Rowlands, added: "The concerns of the committee relating to how the new charge will impact on more vulnerable residents are already being addressed as we plan implementation. We have also pledged to review the operation of the scheme regularly."