THE blunder by East Hampshire District Council which led to the accidental over-ordering of around 5,000 refuse bins looks set to cost tax payers nearly £28,000.
But this week councillors are hoping they have drawn a line under the embarrassing episode with the news that they are on the point of selling off all the extra bins. But the sale will be at a loss and the council will have to write off £27,816 of tax payersÕ money.
In a report to the councilÕs cabinet next Wednesday, members are told that the decision to sell was taken as a matter of urgency after consultation with council leader Elizabeth Cartwright, portfolio holder for environment Patrick Burridge and minority group leader Tony Ludlow.
Corporate director Lynda Peacock has reported to cabinet that although the bins were twice advertised for sale in national specialist journals and marketed to every local authority, there were only £7,852 worth of sales.
The excess stock of bins, she said, was valued at £89,219 and negotiations were now taking place to sell the surplus stock of 4,820 bins for £56,459 after keeping around £5,600 of bins for use by EHDC.
Ms Peacock reported: ÒThe result of the sale of stock will be a write-off of £27,816 in the councilÕs accounts.Ó
She added: ÒIt is anticipated that future sales could take come time, incurring storage costs, since the bins can no longer be stored free at Holybourne as Hampshire Waste is redeveloping the site.
ÒThe council has to balance accepting this offer now against storing the bins and continuing to advertise them to achieve a greater price.Ó
Ruling Tory councillors, whose fears that the refuse fiasco would affect votersÕ views in the recent local council elections, proved unfounded, will be heaving a sigh of relief and hoping the sale will end the matter.
The blunder first came to light in March when a grim report of poor management, mistakes and overspending went before EHDCÕs overview and scrutiny committee.
It revealed the over-ordering of the bins, and disputes over the waste contract itself.