Agenda item

            The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Environment setting out the way in which the Council intended to discharge part of its Waste Disposal functions and seeking approval to move forward with the development and implementation of enhanced waste recycling services in Halton.

 

            It was noted that a Members’ Seminar had been held on waste management issues on 12^th June 2007. This Seminar had set out the proposed future strategic and operational plans, including the implementation of enhanced recycling services and the partnership arrangement with the Mersey Waste Disposal Authority (MWDA). The Seminar had highlighted the significant financial implications associated with waste management and the major investment required in both the short and long term.

 

            The Executive Board was now requested to consider and approve the delegation of defined aspects of the Council’s waste disposal functions to allow MWDA to procure contracts on behalf of Halton, the principles of which would be detailed in a formal Inter-Authority Agreement (IAA) with the MWDA. Members were also asked to consider and approve Halton’s Waste Action Plan, which had been updated following the Members’ Seminar. Further information was provided within the report regarding the IAA and the Waste Action Plan.

 

The Board considered a number of issues including:

 

• the responsibility of contractors to replace splitting bins;
• who green bins were to be delivered to and how, if they were not required by a resident, the Council would collect the bin if requested to do so;
• the fact that the policy previously agreed, of not taking side refuse, was being phased in gradually;
• how a further 20 “bring sites” were to be identified across the Borough; and
• the fact that recycling facilities were being incorporated into developments as part of the planning process.

 

Reason for Decisions

 

            A formal partnership agreement with the MWDA was required in order for Halton to be included in the procurement of Waste Treatment Services and facilities by the MWDA.

 

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

 

            The options that had been considered, and had led to a decision to work in partnership with the MWDA, were detailed in previous reports presented to the Executive Board.

 

Implementation Date

 

            Implementation was expected by September 2007, following consultation between relevant Officers and Elected Members.

 

            RESOLVED: That

 

(1)               the Council, acting under the authority of the Relevant Powers and in accordance with the Partnership Ethos, enter into an arrangement with the Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (“MWDA”) for the discharge by the MWDA of the functions of the Council (in its capacity as Waste Disposal Authority) specified in this resolution (“the Arrangement”) to achieve the Purpose;

 

(2)               the Strategic Director – Environment, in consultation with the Strategic Director – Corporate and Policy, the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Leisure and Sport, and the Portfolio Holder for Corporate and Policy, be authorised to take all actions and to make any decisions deemed appropriate in connection with and in the furtherance of the Arrangement (including entering into the Inter Authority Agreement referred to below), and any modifications to the Arrangement which may be agreed with MWDA from time to time;

 

(3)               in this resolution:

 

“the Relevant Powers” mean section 19 Local Government Act 2000, the Local Authorities (Arrangements for the Discharge of Functions)   (England) Regulations 2000  and  all other enabling powers allowed by law;

 

“the Partnership Ethos” means that in the discharge of the Arrangement  the Council and MWDA shall act in a spirit of openness and trust in their dealings with each other and shall mutually support and co-operate with each other to ensure the success and performance of the Arrangement;

 

“the Purpose” means achieving the provision of the procurement, creation and administration of the Principal Contracts which will facilitate the  delivery of  the Council’s waste management targets;

 

“the Principal Contracts” mean the contracts proposed to be entered into by MWDA and a contractor or contractors in relation to firstly, Waste Management and Recycling, and secondly, Resource Recovery;

 

“the Inter Authority Agreement” means the Inter Authority Agreement defined in paragraph (4);

 

(4)               “The Arrangement”:

 

the Council delegates to MWDA that part of its waste disposal function as relates to the procurement of the subject matter set out in the Principal Contracts subject to the terms, restrictions and limitations contained or to be contained in a document entitled “Inter Authority Agreement” in respect of the procurement and management of the Principal Contracts, a draft of which has been produced to the Council;

 

(5)               the principles of the Waste Action Plan and the delivery of the pilot study contained within it be approved; and

 

(6)       the financial expenditure required to deliver the enhanced recycling services, as contained within Halton’s Waste Action Plan, are considered following the monitoring of the pilot study, and during the budget setting process for 2008/09.