Agenda item
Disposal of Northumberland Wharf Waste Transfer Station
In accordance with its terms of reference given at Article 6.02 (ii) of the Council’s Constitution, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee will consider any key issues /questions arising in relation to the attached report to be considered by the Mayor or Cabinet concerning the disposal of Northumberland Wharf Waste Transfer Station.
Minutes:
In accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Terms of Reference, Article 6.02 (ii) of the Council's Constitution, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee wished to consider key issues in relation to the report on Disposal of Northumberland Wharf Waste Transfer Station which was to be discussed by Cabinet on 5th October 2011.
Jamie Blake, Service Head, Public Realm, and Councillor Shahed Ali, Cabinet Member for Environment, presented the report circulated as agenda item 6.1. The Committee was informed that in the past, Northumberland Wharf had been used for the waterborne transit of the borough's waste to landfill sites. Usage had declined over the years as a result of Government directives on waste which required councils to move away from the use of landfill to other more environmentally friendly methods.
As part of its Waste Strategy, the Council was looking to develop long-term approaches to waste disposal and wanted the site to be used for long-term strategic planning. Options to save site maintenance costs were being explored, including a medium term lease. The Committee was asked to note that the continued operation of the recycling centre located at the site would form part of the terms of the lease.
In response to Members’ questions, the Committee received the following information:
- Access to the recycling centre would remain free to borough residents.
- In the event that a tenant could not be found, the Council proposed to shut down the site. The recycling centre would continue and its operator, Veolia, would assist in any reconfiguration required.
- As waste wharves were rare and Northumberland wharf was a protected site, attracting potential tenants would be challenging. Although the Council was pursuing likely tenants who would continue to use the wharf should none be found, the facility could possibly be closed down in lieu of future use and the remainder of the site used for storage.
- Regarding the feasibility of retaining the site for waste removal purposes, even with reduced volumes, the Committee was informed that the Government had offered incentives for reducing landfill therefore usage of the wharf had reduced.
- To reduce its exposure to Government landfill escalators, the Council had negotiated with Veolia to dispose of waste through incineration and increased recycling. The borough's waste would be driven to two processing sites in South London to reduce the need for waste transfer and these costs.
- The Council operated weekly refuse and recycling collections. Therefore there were no local implications arising from the Government’s recent announcement to support the reinstatement of weekly refuse collections.
- The report asked Cabinet for permission to go to market to realise some income from the site and avoid upkeep costs that would otherwise be incurred. However, should tenants from the waste industry not be found, the authority would be willing to look at other uses for the site.
- It was not the Council’s intention to sell the site as after 2017 it would need to look at new waste disposal contracts and future trends in waste disposal might again render the site useful.
- Waste Management industry trends were away from landfill and towards investing in modern waste technology methods, building PFI and incineration facilities. Pilot plants were being trialled at present and it was the Service Head’s view that these would be scaled up once technological developments permitted.
RESOLVED
That the report be noted.
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