Issue - meetings

Jamie Henderson (Cabinet Member for Environment, Coastal Regeneration and Public Health), Helen Shulver (Assistant Director Resource Management and Circular Economy) were in attendance for this item.

1.The Cabinet Member introduced the report and discussed the following:

a)    Explained that Kent County Council, as the Waste Disposal Authority, had a statutory duty under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to provide arrangements for the disposal of household waste collected by district councils. Members were advised that the existing temporary waste transfer arrangements serving Folkestone and Hythe would expire in January 2028 and that a long-term solution was therefore required.

b)    Members were informed that KCC currently operated an interim arrangement at Ross Way, Folkestone. The Committee heard that the facility was unable to accommodate all waste streams arising within the district and that residual and food waste currently had to be transported to Ashford. Officers advised that the current arrangements were operationally inefficient, generated additional costs and would cease when the existing contract expired in January 2028.

c)      The Cabinet Member explained that the report represented an update to the previously approved Junction 11 Waste Transfer Station scheme. Members were advised that material changes had occurred since the original decision had been taken, requiring a reassessment of the preferred approach.

d)    Officers outlined the principal issues affecting the Junction 11 project and explained that a critical additional parcel of land required to discharge planning conditions had not been secured. Despite efforts by KCC to acquire the land independently, negotiations had been unsuccessful. Members were informed that without the additional land the planning conditions could not be discharged and the project could not be delivered within the required timescales.

e)    The Committee heard that progression of the Junction 11 scheme would expose the Council to further financial and delivery risks, including land acquisition risks, programme delays and the potential requirement to commit additional expenditure before certainty regarding deliverability could be established.

f)        Officers advised that a market engagement exercise had since identified the availability of a viable alternative solution through the procurement of a commercial waste transfer service within the district. Members were informed that such an approach would provide a deliverable solution within the timeframe required while maintaining KCC’s ability to meet its statutory obligations.

g)    The Committee noted that the proposed procurement would seek to secure a commercial provider capable of receiving, bulking and transporting waste arising from Folkestone and Hythe. Members were advised that the procurement exercise would include consideration of value for money, environmental performance, contract flexibility, social value and future Local Government Reorganisation requirements

2. The following aspects were discussed:

a)    Concerns were expressed regarding the financial implications of ceasing work on the Junction 11 scheme. Members noted that approximately £722,000 had already been incurred in developing the project and queried whether those costs would become abortive. Officers confirmed that the expenditure already incurred would be treated as abortive costs should the project not proceed. Members were advised that there was also a risk that some Community Infrastructure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 111