Decision details

The Future of the Dry Recycling Service

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

Future direction of the Dry Recycling Service

Decision:

1.1 The following recommendations were approved by Cabinet (final approval being subject to parallel agreement by the Council’s JWC partners Tamworth Borough Council):

 

·        Subject to Staffordshire County Council’s agreement to fund an equitable share of the additional costs, the Joint Waste Service move to a dual-stream collection methodology (Option 5); subject to recommendation 1.2.  The key principles the Council would seek in an equitable cost share between itself and the County Council would be as follows:

 

-        There should be no capping of the level of support, the sharing should be on an open book reconciliation of actual costs,

-        The cost sharing to including all additional costs of a dual-stream service, including costs of transition and implementation,

-        That there should be no modification of the current mechanism of uplifting recycling credit in line with RPI.

 

If unable to agree this equitable split the Council would hand back comingled disposal as detailed in the final bullet point of recommendation 1.1.

 

·        The dual-stream collections be based on a default of a bin for glass cans and plastics and a bag for paper and card (a second bin may be provided where this proves more suitable to residents and collection rounds).

 

·        Delegation of the authority to enter into contracts for the disposal of dual-stream waste to the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Recycling and the Head of Operational Services and subject to recommendation 1.2.

 

·        If Staffordshire County Council do not agree to fund an equitable share of the additional costs of dual-stream collection; the existing commingled collection methodology (option 2) to be retained and the transfer of responsibility for the disposal of Dry Mixed Recycling be returned to Staffordshire County Council from 1st April 2022 (subject to recommendation 1.2).

 

1.2    The Cabinet recommended that Council update the Medium Term Financial Strategy based on the additional financial implications of the selected option:

 

·        Option 5: to increase the revenue budget by a maximum of £146,909 (Full Cost £251,988 and Tamworth BC cost £105,079) per annum from 2022/2023. This budget pressure may reduce as a result of cost sharing negotiations with Staffordshire County Council. In addition, to include a new project in the Capital Programme in 2021/22 for £229,183 (Lichfield DC £133,614 and Tamworth BC £95,569) funded by contributions from Staffordshire CC, Tamworth BC and Lichfield DC (reserves) or;

 

·        Option 2: to increase the revenue budget by £50,491 (Full Cost £86,605 and Tamworth BC cost £36,114) per annum from 2022/23.

 

Report author: Nigel Harris

Publication date: 07/07/2021

Date of decision: 06/07/2021

Decided at meeting: 06/07/2021 - Cabinet

Accompanying Documents: