Rubbish is going uncollected due to waste lorries breaking down, say Milton Keynes councillors

They say garden and food bins are sitting unemptied because Serco's vehicles keep failing.

Liberal Democrat councillor Jane Carr said: “We are all immensely grateful to the Serco teams for the service they provided during lockdown. However, there is a current failure in service, and it seems to be more to do with the reliability of the vehicles than the hard working teams.”

She added: “We need Serco management to take urgent action to address this problem and for Milton Keynes Council to keep a close eye. Our residents deserve better.”

Cllr Carr had raised the issue of poor performance by Serco at this week’s Scrutiny Management Committee.

The Newport Pagnell South councillor sought assurances that the recent impact upon refuge collections is being addressed at the highest level of the Council and with its contractor.

Lib Dem Shadow Cabinet member for environment and transport, Councillor Vanessa McPake, said Serco needed to get a full complement of staff and maintain their vehicles properly.

“There should be no more temporary staff or temporary vehicles,” she said.