The Dorset Waste Partnership has urged council executives to double the transitional period for Christchurch collections to be carried out by Dorset Council once the partnership ‘ceases to exist’ next year.
Last month, the DWP’s joint committee met to discuss what will happen to waste collections in Christchurch once the duties of the DWP become an executive function of Dorset Council (see letsrecycle.com story).
Councillors were concerned that a 1 year transitional phase for waste collections may not be sufficient
The move came as a result of a shake-up involving Dorset county council and other authorities in the area, which will see the current nine councils reduced to two unitary authorities. This will involve Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) making up one council and East Dorset, North Dorset, Purbeck, West Dorset and Weymouth & Portland making up the other.
Transitional
As Christchurch falls under the BCP, a report – which suggested a one year transitional phase for waste collections to be carried out by Dorset until while the BCP takes over – went before the DWP’s joint committee board, which is made up of Dorset councillors.
In the recently released draft minutes, Michael Roake, vice-chairman of North Dorset District Council, “expressed concern” that a one year period would not be sufficient whilst also noting that there would be new members of the Dorset Council under the shake-up. He proposed that the timescale was “2 years or sooner” to allow greater flexibility.
Seconded
This proposal was seconded by Cllr Margaret Phipps, as she considered that one year was not sufficient time and was concerned about “possible impacts” on Christchurch residents.
The draft minutes for the meeting, where councillors were asked to comment on the report which will later go before council executives, noted that some members were supportive of a two year transition period “as this would provide more flexibility for the Dorset and BCP Councils and allow time for appropriate planning to take place by both members and officers”.
There was no mention of any councillor disagreeing.
It is thought some councillors may be anxious over the time-frame as during the years following the partnership’s foundation in 2011, there were issues with budget overspends and service provisions (see letsrecycle.com story).
Under suggested plans, Dorset Council will continue waste collections for Christchurch for ‘two years or less’ (picture: Shutterstock)
It was further highlighted in the meeting last month that waste services in Christchurch could be a political issue during the election in May 2019 “when it would be important to convey the message that any action taken would not reduce service performance”.
Budget
As for the arrangement’s impact on the budget, councillors agreed that as Christchurch represents 11.8% of the total waste collection budget, this would be the fee going forward, with a financial model built in in case of any overspend.
Following the discussion, according to the draft minutes, “some members” felt that they could agree in principle to the report, subject to the legal agreement and financial considerations.
The full minutes will be submitted to the council executive “in order to assist” with discussions on the matter, where a final decision will be made.
The post Councillors seek longer Christchurch transitional phase appeared first on letsrecycle.com.
Source: letsrecycle.com Waste Managment
