Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council has adjourned a vote on adopting the 2003 budget, which proposed a large increase in refuse charges.
The vote was postponed to next Tuesday after the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, refused councillors' requests for a meeting.
"We received a very polite letter from Minister Cullen saying it was up to Dún Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council to sort it out," said the council chairman, Mr Donal Marren (FG), last night.
"To say he has no hand in the matter is disingenuous at best," Mr Marren claimed. "He met with Cork County Council before Christmas, so there is some contradiction in his reply," he added.
Mr Marren said that the councillors were "very disappointed". Their request to meet Mr Cullen at his office had been made in good faith to point out the "unique situation" facing the council over its 2003 budget.
"To find ourselves having to pass on 65 per cent increases in bin charges is unacceptable," Mr Marren told The Irish Times. "The public are being hit from direct and indirect taxes."
The manager's request for a waste management charge of €330 needed to be drastically reduced, according to Mr Marren.
If councillors do not adopt the budget at next week's meeting, Mr Cullen may grant additional time for them to decide. However, if no estimate is finally adopted, the Minister may appoint a non-elected commissioner who would accede to the manager's request for a bin charge of €330, Mr Marren noted.
The members of Arklow Town Council last night unanimously approved a 6.25 per cent increase in rates for this year. The annual rate on valuation will be €51.86, compared with €48.81 last year.