Decision details

Decision:

The Cabinet Member for Environment agrees to approve KCC entering into an Inter Authority Agreement (IAA) with Dover District Council and Folkestone & Hythe District Council to increase levels of recycling and reduce disposal costs for KCC. To encourage improvement, savings will be equally shared between respective Collection and Disposal Authorities as performance payments.

Background:

These proposed agreements accord with the policy approach agreed by the Cabinet Committee on the 31^st May 2018, that new Waste Partnership Agreements with Collection Authorities should include the reward based on performance.

Partnership agreements and shared savings have proved to be a very successful method to share the benefits and rewards of reducing residual waste, they actively act as an incentive and have driven higher levels of recycling and therefore positive environmental outcomes. They have already been implemented in West Kent at Gravesham, Tonbridge & Malling and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.

Options (other options considered but discarded):

The existing fixed enabling payments will no longer continue as the East Kent Waste Partnership ends in January 2021. These fixed payments have not proved to incentivise collection Authorities to achieve the targeted levels of recyclate. KCC has borne this commercial risk over the last 10 years

How the proposed decision meets the objectives of ‘Increasing Opportunities, Improving   Outcomes: Kent County Council’s Strategic Statement (2015-2020)’:

Improved and available kerbside recycling schemes contributes to the protection and enhancement of the natural environment, supports a good quality of life for residents and allows sustainable waste growth through increased housing and population growth.