A PROPOSED scheme that could allow householders to claim a rebate if their local council fails to deliver key services has been dismissed as "a gimmick".

Tobias Ellwood, Conservative MP for Bournemouth East, said the government should fund all local councils fairly and properly if it wanted to ensure a decent level of service.

And a Bournemouth cabinet member has said that although he can see some merit in the idea, he cannot see how it would work in practice.

The proposals have been floated by the Department of Communities and Local Government as a possible way of "empowering communities".

Under the scheme, residents could claim refunds if councils fail to collect their rubbish or if street repairs are not carried out on time.

But Mr Ellwood said: "This is another clever way of the government trying to move the limelight away from their own nightmares onto local matters, when in fact it's the government's failure to fund local authorities properly that is the problem.

"I find it shocking that they have the audacity to tell councils they are not doing their job properly when they are not giving them either the funding or the power to do so."

A spokesperson for the Local Government Association said: "Councils will be keen to see how the proposals take shape but they would certainly not want to be burdened with significant numbers of claims which may be unfounded.

"There is already a well-established independent system for people to complain about council services, including financial redress where it is judged to be necessary."

Cllr Nick King, Bournemouth's cabinet member for communications, said he agreed with the move to try and empower residents.

But he said: "Things like this only work when there is a clear cut contract between the two parties and that isn't often the case between councils and residents.

"I worry we could end up spending time and money administering compensation when that would be better spent improving services."