Issue - meetings

The Cabinet considered a report on the proposed Revised Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy. It was noted that the original Strategy had been adopted by all County and District Councils within Herefordshire and Worcestershire in 2004. The review of the Strategy had commenced in 2006 and had involved an extensive public consultation process which was now nearing a conclusion. It was reported that there would be a further meeting of the Joint Waste Resource Management Forum which consisted of Members and officers from Authorities within Herefordshire and Worcestershire in July.  

The original Strategy had focused on the need to restrict the growth of waste, increase recycling rates and reduce the amount of waste being disposed of in landfill sites. The performance of this Council and others within Herefordshire and Worcestershire had improved significantly in this regard. Government Strategy was now more focused on the contribution made by waste collection, treatment and disposal to climate change and on the need to regard waste as a resource from which a value could be obtained. There was a need for the revised Strategy to reflect the changing priorities and to be in accordance with new statutory guidance issued by Central Government. 

Members were generally in favour of the principles and broad aims of the Strategy. There were concerns expressed however, in relation to the Residual Waste Options Appraisal. Of particular concern were the assumptions made in prioritising options for residual waste disposal and the failure to allocate weighting to the selection criteria. In addition it was felt the possibility of achieving waste treatment solutions on a regional basis had not been fully explored. These concerns had been set out fully in the letter to the County Council dated 15th May 2009 which was attached to the report and which formed the Council’s response to the Strategy. It was noted that Redditch Borough Council had expressed similar views.

The Head of Street Scene and Community reported that the County Council appeared to have accepted the reservations expressed and were revisiting the issues raised. It was intended that a further report be submitted to Cabinet in September or October when the final outcome of the consultation process would be known.

Members also requested that an Equality Impact Assessment be undertaken and attached to the forthcoming report. 

RESOLVED 

(a)       that the current position be noted;

(b)       that the broad aims of the Strategy be supported in principle, however, in view of the strong reservations referred to above and in the letter sent to the County Council dated 15th May 2009, the Strategy be not endorsed until further consideration of the residual waste option is undertaken; and

(c)        that the Head of Street Scene and Community be requested to report further on the issue when the consultation process is complete.