'You're like Donald Trump, you are'

Torbay councillors' spat over bins

A Torbay Tory has been compared to Donald Trump after criticising the council’s waste policy. 

Council leader Steve Darling (Liberal Democrat; Barton with Watcombe) made the comments in a cabinet meeting about Conservative member for Preston, Cllr David Thomas (pictured to the right of Mr Trump). 

Councillors were discussing an amendment to the resources and waste management strategy, originally approved in February last year, which included a line suggesting Torbay may trial fewer bin collections, possibly every third week, which happens elsewhere in Devon.

But the council and SWISCo, which provides the council’s waste services, never introduced the policy or included it in their action plan. 

On Thursday members of the cabinet agreed to entirely remove the wording which would allow the council to change the frequency of collections.

But Tory Cllr David Thomas criticised the LibDem/Independent administration; especially leader Steve Darling, for using the phrase “put on hold” about three-weekly bin collections. 

“Anyone would think there was an election on the horizon,” said Cllr Thomas.

The next Torbay elections, to choose all 36 councillors, is in May.

Torbay Council leader Steve Darling (Lib Dem) says Tory councillor is playing political games in row over bins

He continuted: “And so Cllr Morey (Independent, Furzeham with Summercombe, and cabinet member for infrastructure, environment and culture) presented this as a clearing up of loose ends. I think the press would often refer to that clearing up of these loose ends as a U-turn.”

Cllr Darling interjected, saying he misspoke and his words were not reflected in the strategy.  

But Cllr Thomas suggested the LibDem administration had caved in.  

“Three-and-a-half years after saying it’s not the right thing to do, I am delighted this evening that the administration is finally listening to what we have been saying for three-and-a-half years,” he said. 

Cllr Darling responded, saying: “Cllr Thomas, I misspoke. I’ve told you this.  Again, you’re playing as if you’re Donald Trump. 

“It is clear. And you can play your political games as much as you like. But we know that there is more than enough as an administration to drive recycling up without going anywhere near three-weekly bin collections. And that’s why we are removing this.”

The former US president has recently had one of his homes searched by the FBI, who believe he may have taken offical secrets relating to America’s nuclear arsenal.  He denies any wrongdoing.

Back in Torbay, cabinet members agreed to remove any reference which may suggest there would be fewer bin collections.