FREE bulky waste collections could see Southend residents offered five pick ups a year after concerns were raised the scheme “could lead to more fly tipping”.

Southend Council has signed off on a new waste contract which will include wheelie bins, fortnightly collections and free bulky waste collections despite accusations of “councillors being kept in the dark”.

The new waste contract will take effect in April next year when Veolia’s current contract comes to an end but a fiery council meeting saw a number of concerns raised.

Medway Council has been highlighted as an example of how free bulky waste collections can prevent flytipping, however it only allows one free collection of up to three items and has “one of the highest fly-tipping rates”.

Lydia Hyde, councillor responsible for climate, environment and waste has indicated Southend residents could be offered five free collections a year.

In the meeting, Meg Davidson, Conservative councillor for Prittlewell Ward, said: “Medway has one of the highest fly-tipping rates and it goes back some years so I think we need to look at it very carefully to see if there is a correlation between their offer and a link with fly tipping rates.”

The council has confirmed that current charges for collecting bulky waste items will be scrapped. A reliable source has claimed the potential loss of revenue could be up to £200,000.

Ms Hyde added: “It is our intention to introduce free bulky waste collection. We’ve seen in other authorities such as Medway there are indications that it can reduce fly tipping.

“We want to clean up our city and this idea is one of a series of actions we’re contemplating to improve the street scenes.”

Speaking at the meeting, leader of Reform Tony Cox, claimed councillors did not have all the details to vote on the contract He said: “Looking at this paper, it’s incomplete. We can’t effectively scrutinise it. Procurement hasn’t been this council’s finest hour over the year and to say of our biggest single contract that we can award, trust us with no data, is quite frankly laughable.

“This waste contract has been rumbling on for five years at a cost of millions of pounds.

“Also, to say that we are going to have a free bulky waste collection when the report says there is going to be an income stream from charging for bulky waste means there is going to be a loss of income.”