A row has erupted over how controversial changes to waste collections will be decided, with a group of Conservatives accusing Labour of trying to 'push through' the plans, while Labour accused them of putting staff ‘at risk’ for a ‘political stunt’.

A consultation was announced in January for a major reform of waste services across Cheshire West and Chester, which included charging £40-per-year for garden waste collections, as well as replacing existing 55-litre boxes with larger capacity recycle bins on wheels.

The proposals were due to be discussed at an informal virtual meeting of Full Council on Thursday. Council decisions usually have to be made in person, but emergency legislation brought in by the Government last March gave legal weight to virtual decisions too. However, that emergency legislation expired in April this year.

Despite this, the council had planned to press ahead with a virtual meeting on Thursday and even though any vote on the night would not be legally binding, council chief executive Andrew Lewis could have used different powers to sign it off.

But a group of eight Conservative councillors - Cllrs Jill Houlbrook, Michael Baynham, Charles Fifield, Lynn Riley, Simon Eardley, Christopher Basey, Keith Board and Helen Weltman - have now called for a special meeting to be held in person to decide the waste issue, which means arrangements will now have to be made to convene one.

In a statement, they accused Labour of trying to push the controversial policy through at the virtual meeting.

Cllr Simon Eardley, who represents Saughall & Mollington ward and is also the Conservative spokesman for environment matters, said: “There has been massive public engagement with the proposed new waste strategy from the outset with many thousands of residents responding to the public consultation.

"This is a major decision for the council and should be given full and proper scrutiny which is best achieved in person.

“The outcome of this will impact every resident in the borough - we must get it right.”

But the council’s Labour group accused the eight Conservatives of ‘putting staff at risk’ with the move.

Councillor Karen Shore, Labour’s cabinet member for environment, highways and strategic transport, said: “The actions of eight Tories force staff and councillors to meet in-person when local transmission of Covid-19 is high, risking illness and isolation for many for a political stunt by the few.”

Cheshire West and Chester Council Chief Executive Andrew Lewis said: "The decision to hold the meeting virtually has been made to safeguard council members, support staff and others who attend the meetings from the risks from Covid-19.

“It enables our councillors to fully debate issues and to express their views as they would in an in-person meeting in a format that has successfully engaged many more of our residents in council business. The arrangements being put in place fully conform to the law."

He added: "The chair of council has now received a request from eight councillors for a special meeting of the council to be held in-person, to debate one item from the council agenda, on the waste strategy.

“They have the right to do so under the council’s constitution, and arrangements will be put in place.

"Assessments are under way of the appropriate timing, venue, and the necessary public health measures, and further announcements will be made shortly."