One hundred and forty two schemes were successful out of a total 357 applications made by councils to the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in the second round of bids. This follows on the success of 112 schemes which won 42 million towards projects in 2002/03 after the first round of bids in June. 21 million was also awarded this summer purely for London projects spanning 2002/04.
Today's announcement earmarks funds to cover projects over 2003/04. The majority of the award, 52%, went to authorities categorised as 'Low Performers' in recycling. Bids from councils working in partnerships received 26% of the funding ? echoing last week's Strategy Unit report, which encouraged councils to work together.
General Projects received 16%, while in contrast to the first round and bound to provoke controversy, just 4% of funds were awarded to councils seen as High Performing in recycling. Community Initiatives projects received 2% overall. For a full list of second round allocations to local authorities, click here.
Game
Margaret Beckett said: “The waste report from the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit, issued last week, made recommendations to government on how we should deal with this issue in the future, particularly with regard to reducing landfill and meeting the EU Landfill Directive. We certainly do need to raise our game on recycling.
“It really is now down to all concerned to build up a momentum in tackling waste and take everyone forward ? encouraging less landfill, more recycling and a better environment for all.”
Second round bids for schemes came to 220 million overall. Kay Twitchen of the Local Government Association said local authorities were grateful for the funds they had been given, but more was always needed. “The figures always lag behind the reality and a lot of local authorities have made enormous strides in the last year,” she said. “We still have a long way to go, and yes, there is a big funding gap, but it's by no means insurmountable.”
Despite the fact that there will not be a third round of applications for shares of this fund, as some had hoped, Councillor Twitchen remained optimistic that the government might find more resources to help local authorities. “We are hoping for some more very soon!” she said.
Mrs Beckett defended the government's decision to award most funds to low performing councils. “It wasn't the case that all the money went to those who haven't been doing very well, but this year we did try to give money to those who needed a helping hand.” But she warned that the government was prepared to use its powers “as a last resort” against low performers which continued to underachieve and showed little evidence of trying to increase their recycling.
Manchester
The biggest single award was 4,996,139, given to a partnership scheme run by Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority to collect dry recyclables from the kerbside and raise awareness. The authority also received 2.2 million for refubishment of CA sites. The largest non-partnership scheme was Staffordshire County Council's proposal to provide an in-vessel composting facility, worth 1,700,000.
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