The Commission revealed last week in its Spring newsletter that it hopes to publish a good practice guide on waste management in local authorities in July. The document may recommend that councils “get tough” with residents who fail to co-operate with recycling initiatives.
Through research and input from a consultative team has seen the Commission conclude that the councils who take a tough line with residents over recycling do appear able to drive up recycling rates with boroughs such as Eastleigh in Hampshire seen as a good example. Most residents there are now participating in the collection of recyclables and waste which are carried out on alternate weeks by the council's in-house Contract Services organisation.
The best practice guide will aim to help councils and, in particular, service managers, to achieve levels of service close to that of the best performers. It will be based on the evidence gathered and judgements made by the best value inspectors.
Richard Shore who is preparing the guide for the Commission
said that so far 14 reports into individual local authorities had been prepared. “A draft paper will now be issued in the next week or two for consultation.”
Several other points are under discussion by the Audit team. These are thought to include that the government is failing to give sufficient guidance as to whether waste management should be structured on a two tier (county-district) basis or at the regional level. Plus, there is some concern that long term contracts can actually fail to deliver in the short term.
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