Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from:

Councillor Linda Green (Gateshead)

Councillor Claire Rowntree (Sunderland)

The Joint Executive Committee is asked to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 9 December 2022 (attached)

The mnutes of the meeting held on 9 December 2022 were agreed as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interest.

Report attached

The JEC received a report advising them of the latest position regarding the Residual Waste Treatment Contract, all other ancillary waste joint contracts and activities managed by the South Tyne and Wear Waste Management Partnership (STWWMP).

Section 2 gave the JEC the background position on all contracts and procurements. Committee should note that both HWRC contracts are due to expire at the end of March 2023, but all partner authorities have agreed with SUEZ to make use of the full extensions periods available meaning both contracts are now due to expire in March 2026.

Section 3 gave the JEC details on the Residual Waste Treatment Contract. Committee should note paragraphs 3.1 & 3.2 gave details on the proposed acquisition of SUEZ by VEOLIA. SUEZ have now bought back the business which was completed in December 2022.

Appendix A highlighted the contract performance for the period April to December 2022. Both contractual recycling and recovery performance continue to operate above target.

Paragraphs 3.5 to 3.10 gave details of the plant and turbine availability and information on lines 4 and 5 as well as compliance issues.

The JEC noted paragraphs 3.11 to 3.16 refer to the Waste Transfer Stations and that Middlefields was closed for 6 weeks so the floor in Shed B could be replaced. During this period vehicles were diverted to contingency sites in the partnership area as well as North Tyneside Waste Transfer station. Discussions are ongoing with SUEZ in terms of tipping away fees for this site. A report of an odour from Jack Crawford House was received in November from a member of staff from Sunderland City Council. SUEZ investigated and responded promptly confirming the odour suppression system and the automatic fast action doors were all functioning without any issues.

Paragraphs 3.17 to 3.19 discuss the Joint Insurance cost reviews however no progress has been made as we are waiting for South Tyne and Wear Energy Recovery Ltd to respond to us.

The JEC should note that paragraph 3.20 gave confirmation that the 2021/22 reconciliation review exercise has now been completed. As expected the Authorities have all received an income which offset any gate fee charges due to the rise in energy prices and our income sharing agreement on the electricity generated by the EfW for this period.

Under targeted recruitment and training, SUEZ have recruited Stephen Atkinson as Contract Manager to lead on our contracts. The recruitment process is ongoing for the replacement of Site Manager at Jack Crawford House WTS and Campground WTS as James Nesbitt is replacing Stephen Atkinson at their Byker facility.

Paragraphs 3.23 to 3.26 gave details of Community Education and Engagement recent events and activities which will be included in the newsletter circulated to many organisations including local community groups, schools, third sector organisations and this committee.

Section 4 gave details of the Materials Recovery Facility or MRF contracts.

Table A at Appendix B provide the latest performance for blue bin recycling from April to December 2022.

The JEC will note that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

The JEC received a report advising them of the latest Waste Policy developments, since the passing of the new Environment Act 2021 and in particular following the publication of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) consultation findings and the publication of the Environmental Impact Plan 2023.

Section 2 gives background:

·        The 25 Year Environmental Plan the Government published in January 2018, setting out a number of goals for improving the environment, one being ‘Minimising Waste’

·        Later that year, December 2018, Government published the Resource and Waste Strategy (RaWS) outlining in more detail their plans to help achieve the goal of waste minimisation, increase levels of recycling across England and prevent waste from being disposed of by landfill. Specifically, within this Strategy were three key legislative changes which Government sought views on through two round of consultation (2019 and 2021). These being:

o   Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (pEPR)

o   A Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) on single use drinks containers and

·        Consistency in household and business recycling collections

·        These are now often referred to as the Collection and Packaging Reforms

·        The Partnership submitted a joint response to each of the consultation exercises

Paragraphs 2.4 and 2.5 highlight the Environment Bill which was passed in Parliament in November 2021, creating the Environment Act 2021 and giving the Secretary of State the powers to enable these legislative changes set out in the 25 Year Environment Plan and the subsequent Resource and Waste Strategy.

A new Office for Environment Protection has been set up which will hold government and public bodies to account on their environmental obligations.

Paragraph 2.7 explains that one aspect of the Environmental Act 2021 is the power to set long-term, legally binding environmental targets and that in this regard, Government published in January 2023, the Environmental Improvement Plan. This is the first review of the 25 Year Environmental Plan.

Section 3 detailed progress on Government’s plans with Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging – one of the Collection and Packaging Reforms. DEFRA consider this to be a crucial tool in moving waste up the hierarchy by incentivising producers to reduce their packaging overall and to design products that are easier to recycle. Currently, local authorities pick up the cost of managing and disposing of this material so by applying the ‘Producer pays Principle’ the costs are shifted from taxpayers to the packaging producers.

Paragraph 3.2 highlighted that Government published their findings from the second consultation exercise in March 2022, 9 months after the consultation period finished. The consultation findings confirmed local authorities would start receiving payments for managing the costs of household packaging waste and packaging in street bins from April 2024.

The JEC noted paragraphs 3.3 and 3.4 explained that local authorities will be judged on delivering an efficient and effective service with deductions made to these payments where deemed appropriate. A Scheme Administrator will be appointed to govern this process, no deductions will be made to payments in the first year  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

The JEC received a presentation providing waste sector news update.

RESOLVED – That the JEC noted the update

Friday 9 June 2023 at 1.30 pm venue to be advised in due course.