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Councillors and committees

Agenda item

Communications Update

Presentation

Minutes:

A presentation was given to the Committee on local, national and local authority waste-related stories that have been in the media.

 

The Airports Commission identified its preferred option of a third runway at Heathrow. This would impact on the Lakeside EfW facility in Berkshire as it would need to be demolished to make way for the runway. The Commission’s report recommends that it should be relocated as part of the proposals to a site nearby with minimal disruption.

 

It was reported that, in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, there was no assurances over the future of landfill tax rates after April 2018. It was also noted in the statement that work is ongoing to clarify issues around landfill tax obligations. There was no specific environmental policy touched on in the speech, although the waste sector was highlighted as one of the six priority areas governed by the National Infrastructure Committee.

 

It was reported that the Dorset Waste Partnership, which manages waste services for seven local authorities, has called for further Government guidance over what constitutes household waste for disposal. Dorset currently charges for the disposal of construction waste, however a Conservative MP has written to the Local Government Minister to clarify what steps Government are taking to ensure that Dorset Waste Partnership does not charge for waste from household DIY projects. In a written response to Parliament the Minister referred to legislation preventing local authorities from charging residents to dispose of household waste, classifying DIY waste as household if it results from work a householder could carry out. The Director of Dorset Waste Partnership responded and requested further clarification on what is now a national issue.

 

Committee was advised that Somerset Waste Partnership will decide next month whether to switch from fortnightly to three weekly collection for their five local authorities. It is anticipated that the service change will lead to a 27% reduction in residual waste and deliver £1.7m savings per year. It was noted that the transition costs are forecast at £2.2m with an estimated pay back within 18 months so full year savings will be seen from 2019.

 

It was noted that a survey conducted on behalf of the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) has found that the Council services that people are most satisfied with are refuse and recycling. However, APSE warned that the public are now starting to see the impact of austerity with many respondents reporting a decline in their local services. 44% of those respondents thought that this was the combined fault of both Government and local Councils whilst only 27% thought this was caused by Government alone.

 

It was reported that there was a recent article in the Daily Mail around a group of bin men who have been sacked for helping an elderly man by clearing bags of rubbish from his garden. The men worked for Veolia in Kent and were dismissed for gross misconduct without first receiving a warning. Residents were so upset that they started a collection to help their families out over the Christmas period.

 

RESOLVED    -           That the Joint Executive Committee noted the information

presented.

 

 

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