Hampshire looks at inviting other councils to join Project Integra

The idea of expanding Project Integra has been put on the agenda of a new board set up for the project in a bid to improve the efficiency and accountability of its operations. The new board will be led by councillors and the first chairman comes from Southampton City Council.

Project Integra was originally established as an informal agreement between the 14 local authorities of Hampshire and the Onyx-owned waste disposal and recycling company, Hampshire Waste Services Ltd. At the time there were no formal arrangements for sharing decision-making responsibilities.

The process is seen as generally having worked out well especially as in December 1999, Project Integra was awarded Beacon Council status by the Government in recognition of its leading work in managing waste. However, Project Integra has now set up the elected member-led management board and policy panel.

Councillor Williams, cabinet member for environment and transport at Southampton City Council is chair of the new board. He commented: “The new arrangement is intended to make a clearer and more accountable framework, to enable Project Integra to respond more effectively to the challenges of dealing with waste in the future. It is hoped that the Board will lead to an increase in the speed and efficiency of collective decision making. Members need to be directly involved in the development of a joint strategy and a long-term vision for waste as a resource.”

Agenda

The future agenda of the board will include:

• Exploring opportunities for finance and funding;

• Developing links with other bodies
• Influencing government and its agencies
• Identifying markets for materials
• Exploring the possibility of other local authorities joining Project Integra; and
• Preparation of a draft Annual Service Plan

In support of the management board, and in accordance with government guidelines on the modernising agenda for local authorities, a scrutiny and policy panel has also been established to help set the future agenda and to challenge and review the actions of the management board. Again membership of the Panel comprises elected member representation from each Integra partner.

Both the board and panel meetings will be held in public (unless there are matters of a commercial and therefore confidential nature), with meeting dates and locations being published in advance so that members of the community or any other interested groups may attend.

A spokesman for Project Integra said: “There is little doubt that the actions of Project Integra to introduce a formal structure will further enhance its reputation as being the UK’s leading integrated waste management programme. The action will also demonstrate that Project Integra intends to remain at the forefront of innovative development and will continue to work in an open and democratic style. “