Auditors rate Lincoln waste services “good”

The Lincolnshire council's environment department, which includes waste management and street scene services such as street cleansing, was given the rating along a scale ranging from zero to three stars. It was judged to be “good with promising prospects for improvement”.

Recommendations included involving local people in the development of the waste collection service to make sure it meets the community's requirements. The report also suggested comparing the cost of services with other councils to make sure residents are getting value for their money.

Chris Wilson, Audit Commission senior manager, said: “The council has invested in improving the quality and reliability of these services and has worked closely with its contractor to improve waste collection and street cleansing in the city. However, it could do more to ensure that services are providing value for money for local council tax payers.”

Finances

In terms of finances, the council spent £3.64 million on its street scene and waste management services in 2006/07. It invested £1.6 million in extra resources including wheeled bins, and kerbside and garden waste recycling.

However, the Commission said that while Lincoln was focusing on achieving value for money by putting its waste collection and recycling contracts out to tender earlier this year, it was “unable to demonstrate that it is achieving value for money” because of “significant overspending” in 2006/07.

Yvonne Bodger, Lincoln's environment portfolio holder, said: “The results from this assessment and the 'good' rating that we have received clearly highlights the commitment the council is making towards improving the services for the people of Lincoln. The report also highlights areas in which improvements can be made, and we will ensure that the environmental services the council provides continues to develop.”

The Commission also praised Lincoln's track record of “implementing major changes to improve services” such as introducing wheeled bin collections to replace a collection system of sacks and boxes. However, it said while the new political leadership had pledged to improve services, details of a review had not yet emerged and that this was “currently having an impact on the council's ability to plan future service improvements”.

Lincoln presently offers a kerbside recycling service of cardboard, rigid plastics, paper, cans and textiles, which are all collected in a black box. The Commission's report praised improvements in the council's recycling/composting rate, which increased from 29% in 2005/06 to 36% in 2006/07. It added that the services “are accessible and responsive to the needs of local people” but that “limited progress” had been made in identifying the needs of minority and hard to reach groups.