Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
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Local authorities working together on waste: consultation published
Neighbouring local authorities, working together, could deliver better integrated and cost-effective waste services, a consultation paper published today outlines.
Any group of two or more authorities will be able to apply to the Government to voluntarily transfer waste collection, disposal, and/or street cleansing functions to a Joint Waste Authority (JWA). The consultation paper details options for how JWAs will work and asks for views on what the proposals should contain.
Climate Change and Waste Minister, Joan Ruddock, said:
"Joint working on waste is becoming increasingly important, to help authorities to invest in new, sustainable waste facilities more cost effectively. Authorities are already developing innovative ways of working with their neighbours to improve their waste services.
"Joint waste authorities can provide local authorities with an additional option for working together - one that will allow them to put their partnership on a statutory footing."
The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 included powers to allow the establishment of Joint Waste Authorities; these will be governed by elected members of their constituent authorities. Joint Waste Authorities will be voluntary and would only be created with agreement of all authorities concerned.
Government introduced the powers in response to requests from local authorities. It will be up to elected members for any particular area to decide whether they wish to establish a JWA for their area, and they will be required to consult local people about any such proposals.
Notes
1. A report on joint working on waste by the Innovation Forum (a group of high-performing authorities) highlighted the benefits of joint working in two-tier areas, citing possible efficiency savings of around £150m nationally. However, one of the key barriers to joint working identified in the report was the limited legal basis for joint working arrangements which can create difficulties when authorities are dealing with the private sector. Allowing authorities the option to apply for creation of a formal JWA should reduce such barriers to joint working.
2. Joint waste authorities will be new legal bodies established by secondary legislation (an Order). They can only be dissolved in limited circumstances: where all the constituent authorities agree to do so or where the Secretary of State consider it is necessary.
3. One of the key advantages that JWAs offer over other types of partnership is that they will be able to employ staff directly and can enter into contracts with third parties (in other forms of waste partnership models one of the member authorities has to take on this role on behalf of the other authorities).
4. Further information on partnership working on waste and JWAs
can be found at:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/localauth/partnerwork/index.htm
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/waste/localauth/partnerwork/jwa.htm
5. Funding of £500,000 for 2008/09 has been secured to help interested local authorities to develop proposals for JWAs. Details of how this funding will be distributed will be posted on Defra's website in due course, in the meantime interested authorities should contact Defra at LAWFG@defra.gsi.gov.uk
6. The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 can be accessed at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/pabills/200607/local_government_and_public_involvement_in_health.htm
7. Responses to the consultation should be submitted by Monday 9 June 2008 to LAWFG@defra.gsi.gov.uk. The consultation papers can be accessed at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/jwa/
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