Minister announces new powers for joint working

24 January 2007

Environment minister, Ben Bradshaw, has announced new powers for local authorities to set up joint waste authorities in order to achieve better-integrated and cost-effective waste services.
Any group of two or more authorities will be able to apply to the Government to voluntarily transfer waste disposal, collection and/or street-cleansing functions to a statutory joint waste authority.
Until now, joint waste management initiatives were managed collectively by the authorities involved.
Bradshaw explained: ‘Joint working on waste is becoming ever-more important, particularly in shire areas. Authorities are already developing innovative ways of working with their neighbours to improve waste services, and this amendment will increase the range of partnership working options available to them.’
David Harvey, waste committee chairman of the County Surveyors’ Society, said: ‘The powers will enable local authorities to implement a separate authority on waste collection and disposal. However, there must be agreement in the first place.
‘We would welcome the new powers, but implementation depends on circumstances in particular areas.’
A report by a group of local authorities called for legislative changes to make joint working on waste easier, and estimated potential savings of £150M in shire areas alone.

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