Dorset Waste Partnership ‘optimistic’ as finances strengthen

In a draft updated business plan for 2016/17, Karyn Punchard noted that the Partnership is now in a position to “take stock of services as a whole across the county” – with a shift in focus from rolling out the ‘Recycle for Dorset’ service to behaviour change among householders.

The Dorset Waste Partnership was established in 2011 and manages waste services for seven local authorities in the county – but has come under scrutiny in recent years.

Roll out of harmonised recycling collections across the county was delayed in Weymouth and Portland, while Steve Burdis, the former director of the Dorset Waste Partnership, was recently dismissed following the project’s controversial £2.8 million overspend in 2014/2015 (see letsrecycle.com story).

Unbudgeted costs included a £500,000 overspend on operational staffing costs and agency fees.

However, an updated financial report for June submitted by the Partnership treasurer now shows an underspend of £519,584 – which is noted as a ‘more optimistic financial position against the budget’.

Factors in the underspend include a more buoyant trade waste income, lower waste arising tonnages than expected in February and March, and ‘significantly lower’ capital financing charges due to slippage on infrastructure schemes and vehicle deliveries.

While optimistic, Ms Punchard did note that in the medium-term due to current constraints on the public purse, “the need to drive these efficiencies in the Recycle for Dorset service could not be greater”.

She said: “Route optimisation, scenario modelling and infrastructure review will form a significant part in planning future cashable savings for the DWP. This, together with how we manage our risk in relation to end destinations and markets for materials will determine the levels of savings that the DWP will be able to achieve.”

Collections

Elsewhere, the Partnership is set to implement an extra Saturday collection to help smooth changes to its ‘Recycling for Dorset’ service in some areas.

It has said it wants to make the changes gradually with residents in East Dorset and Christchurch from next week (4 July), where it is optimising its collection service.

The Partnership claims an extra Saturday collection will help residents get used to the changes during the first week of the new rounds coming into force. The council claims only ‘5%’ of people in Christchurch will be affected, because their rounds are ‘fairly efficient.’ However, there will be wider changes in East Dorset.

‘Goals’

Councillor Anthony Alford, chairman of the Partnership, said: “When the Dorset Waste Partnership was conceived, one of our key goals was to deliver savings for our partner councils by operating our collections differently. Now that all Dorset residents have the same uniform service, we can return to the rounds and realise the efficiencies of cross-boundary working – this is the advantage that the partnership gives us.

“We are working closely with the communities we serve in East Dorset and Christchurch to ensure these changes cause as little disruption as possible.”