Published on 6th October 2011
Cheltenham and Cotswold councils are due to vote next week to establish a joint environmental services company to deliver a range of environmental services.
The cabinets of both Cheltenham Borough Council and Cotswold District Council are due to vote next week on a new initiative which would establish a joint local authority company controlled by both authorities, delivering collective savings of at least £700,000 in a full financial year for both councils.
Officials from each council have already been assessing the feasibility of joining forces and will be presenting their findings to each cabinet on 13 October. If their recommendations are endorsed by both cabinets, a local authority controlled joint environmental services company would be created to deliver a range of environmental services including waste, street cleaning, grounds maintenance and recycling in Cheltenham borough and across the Cotswolds.
The company would be launched in April 2012 when Cheltenham Borough Council would go live with the new arrangements, including the transfer of existing operational services employees to the new company. Cotswold District Council would follow suit in August 2012 which would see employees currently working for their waste contractor SITA transferring to the new company.
Commenting on this proposal, Councillor Roger Whyborn, the cabinet member for sustainability, said: "In the long run, the development of a modern waste collection service controlled by the two authorities will enable us to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and to further increase the amount of waste we recycle.
"The governance and financial management arrangements envisaged for the company will ensure greater efficiency and tighter financial control with both council’s paying for the service ‘at cost’ instead of funding profit margins of privately-owned waste contractors. This will contribute to achieving overall cost reduction targets."
His counterpart at Cotswold, Councillor David Fowles, the cabinet lead for environmental issues, added: "Our current waste contract with SITA ends next year and we have been eager to obtain an environmental service which guarantees taxpayers the best value for money and the provision of a much requested kerbside plastic bottle recycling service in the Cotswolds. Joint working with Cheltenham looks to be by far the best solution - and the creation of the company would provide scope for other authorities to join in the future, delivering even more savings. The company will be a critical catalyst for the ultimate aspiration - a county-wide waste partnership including all districts and Gloucestershire County Council."
Notes
Officials from each council have already been assessing the feasibility of joining forces and will be presenting their findings to each cabinet on 13 October. If their recommendations are endorsed by both cabinets, a local authority controlled joint environmental services company would be created to deliver a range of environmental services including waste, street cleaning, grounds maintenance and recycling in Cheltenham borough and across the Cotswolds.
The company would be launched in April 2012 when Cheltenham Borough Council would go live with the new arrangements, including the transfer of existing operational services employees to the new company. Cotswold District Council would follow suit in August 2012 which would see employees currently working for their waste contractor SITA transferring to the new company.
Commenting on this proposal, Councillor Roger Whyborn, the cabinet member for sustainability, said: "In the long run, the development of a modern waste collection service controlled by the two authorities will enable us to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and to further increase the amount of waste we recycle.
"The governance and financial management arrangements envisaged for the company will ensure greater efficiency and tighter financial control with both council’s paying for the service ‘at cost’ instead of funding profit margins of privately-owned waste contractors. This will contribute to achieving overall cost reduction targets."
His counterpart at Cotswold, Councillor David Fowles, the cabinet lead for environmental issues, added: "Our current waste contract with SITA ends next year and we have been eager to obtain an environmental service which guarantees taxpayers the best value for money and the provision of a much requested kerbside plastic bottle recycling service in the Cotswolds. Joint working with Cheltenham looks to be by far the best solution - and the creation of the company would provide scope for other authorities to join in the future, delivering even more savings. The company will be a critical catalyst for the ultimate aspiration - a county-wide waste partnership including all districts and Gloucestershire County Council."
For Cheltenham media enquiries, contact: Richard Gibson, telephone: 01242 235354, email richard.gibson@cheltenham.gov.uk
For Cotswold media enquiries, contact Bob McNally, Press and Media Liaison Officer, 01285 623120
Notes
Under the new arrangements, the following services would fall within the remit of the joint environmental services company:
Cheltenham
- waste collection
- kerbside recycling collections
- organic waste collections
- servicing of neighbourhood recycling sites
- operation of the Swindon Road recycling centre
- street cleaning
- public toilet cleaning
- grounds maintenance
- grounds maintenance of Cheltenham Borough Homes’ managed green spaces
- fleet management and maintenance
- waste collection
- kerbside recycling collections
- organic waste collections
- servicing of neighbourhood recycling sites
- street cleaning
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