But, the local environment quality minister told Tory MP Caroline Spelman on Monday that if councils do join forces to set up joint waste authorities, Defra may cover initial setting up costs if there is a case to do so.
Partnership working and integrating collection and disposal services have the potential to generate efficiency savings
Ben Bradshaw
The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill, which would allow councils to set up formal joint authorities – strengthening existing waste partnerships – has its second reading today (June 20, 2007),
If it becomes law, it will give the new authority direct control to let waste contracts, own assets and employ waste management staff. They can also pool recycling and landfill diversion targets.
Joint working
Commenting on the measures in a written answer to Ms Spelman, Mr Bradshaw said: “Joint working between local authorities is becoming increasingly important as a means of delivering quality services to residents and meeting the UK's environmental objectives.
“Joint working is particularly important in two-tier areas, where responsibilities for waste collection and waste disposal are split between different authorities.
Savings
“Partnership working and integrating collection and disposal services also have the potential to generate efficiency savings,” Mr Bradshaw added.
Research carried out by AEA Technology on Defra's behalf prior to the drafting of the Bill suggested that more councils will have to share waste disposal authorities if England is to meet its waste targets.
Mr Bradshaw said further research suggested that councils in two-tier areas could save around £150 million nationally by working in partnerships.
Councils that have expressed an interest in forming joint waste authorities include a partnership in South London. (see letsrecycle.com story)
Other local authorities around the country have already entered formal agreements to share waste management services, including Shropshire and Oxford.
The Shropshire Waste Partnership is made up of the county council and four of Shropshire's five district councils.
Partnership director Adrian Poller told letsrecycle.com that the group was unlikely to apply to the government to become a statutory joint waste authority.
He said: “We have a signed constitution binding us together to make our partnership work. We're not knocking joint waste authorities, we just don't see that we need one.”
Mr Poller added that a lack of incentives is unlikely to deter local authorities from forming a new authority because the big incentive and the “point of a partnership, is that it saves you money”.
He estimated that the Shropshire Waste Partnership has reduced overall waste management expenditure of its members by 11 to 13%.
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