I think there are a few things to note here:
1. Southwark council tax did increase quite a bit this year,between bands A-H it was anything from £40 - £115 increase.
So to be asked to stump up an additional £25 makes it hard to swallow.
2. I only have front garden beds but I am over shadowed by numerous london plane trees on the pavement and come autumn, i used to fill up a few brown bins just in leaves, that fall into my garden. So I don't need the bins for my own use, i'm not prepared to pay for a bin to dispose of council leaves. is it legal to sweep them back into the pavement

?
3. The fact thats its one bin only is quite annoying if you do a lot of pruning, one bin can fill fast, so you'll have to wait to fill one bin each week.
4. There is the option of taking it to the old kent road dump - which is probably the option I will take, as it remains free .....for now !
On the council website, it says they will be collecting the brown bins a few weeks after June.