Environment minister rejects calls for a single waste authority

Environment minister Ben Bradshaw MP has written to all London council leaders to reject the Mayor of London's calls for the creation of a single waste authority in the capital.

He also warns that setting up a single waste authority would mean Londoners having to pay more through their council tax to deal with their waste - KPMG have estimated that the costs would total an extra £5.5 million per annum.

The letter follows new analysis released this week by London Councils which demolished the Mayor's arguments for a single waste authority.

The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has claimed recently that London's recycling rate is falling far behind the rest of the country, and that the capital is nearing a 'waste crisis'.

The Mayor has used these claims to justify his call for waste disposal powers, currently held by boroughs or joint borough-led waste authorities, to be transferred to a single waste authority under his control.  This call has been echoed by Karen Buck MP who has tabled an amendment to the GLA Bill - which is currently going through Parliament - calling for a single waste authority in London.

However, the new analysis from London Councils has demonstrated that when compared to similar large urban authorities, London's boroughs have some of the best recycling rates in the country.

The GLA Bill currently proposes to set up a London Waste and Recycling Forum with a 50 per cent membership from the London boroughs. This proposal has the support of London's local authorities.

In light of Karen Buck's amendment, the minister has written to the leaders of London's local authorities to restate the Government's opposition to a single waste authority in London. Ben Bradshaw states:

• that the Government continues to support the creation of a London Waste and Recycling Forum with a 50 per cent membership for the boroughs;
  
  
• that restructuring London's waste services into a single waste authority would divert efforts already underway to achieve more sustainable waste management in the capital;
  
  
• a single waste authority would increase the overall cost to council tax payers of dealing with London's waste;
  
  
• it would also incur significant set-up costs and disruption because of the transferring staff, assets and contracts.

The letter states that recycling is a flagship local authority service, and that the Government continues to believe that recycling should continue to be managed at a local level.

The amendment will be considered by the GLA Bill Committee in the House of Commons this week. The minister urges all boroughs to lobby their local MPs against the creation of a single waste authority.

Chairman of London Councils, Councillor Merrick Cockell said:

"Ben Bradshaw's letter confirms the London Councils view that a single waste authority would undermine the boroughs' efforts to improve waste management in the capital. It would also prove costly to London's council tax payers - KPMG have estimated that the costs would amount to £5.5 million per annum.

"In contrast, the Government has offered £25 million for the proposed Waste and Recycling Forum to invest in the capital's facilities. The Mayor's call for a single waste authority jeopardises this money, which is so vitally needed to continue the boroughs' efforts to improve London's recycling rate. I urge him to drop his calls and engage with the Forum. The challenges faced in London cannot be met by one man alone but need us all to work together in a considered and effective way."

ENDS

Notes to editors

Although no provision is currently made in the Bill, the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone has been calling for waste and recycling powers currently held by individual boroughs and joint borough led waste disposal authorities  to be transferred to a single waste authority under his control. To justify this move he has claimed that London is lagging behind the rest of the country in recycling its waste.

Karen Buck MP has tabled an amendment to the GLA Bill proposing a clause that would establish a single waste authority under the Mayor's control.

The recent Survey of Londoners revealed that the majority of Londoners rate the refuse collection and recycling service offered by their council as good or excellent.

The survey also revealed that Londoners were less concerned about rubbish and litter - a sign that the efforts of councils to improve standards are making a difference.

For more information on the GLA Bill, visit www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/glapowers

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