News from Cornwall Labour

Cornwall councillors “dithering” over waste plans

Lack of leadership and political infighting over waste is costing Cornwall taxpayers millions of pounds and could lead to broken promises over landfill at United Mines, according to information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Labour’s PPC for Camborne & Redruth, Jude Robinson.

Jude said: “My message to councillors is this – for goodness’ sake, get on with it because it is the taxpayers who will pay if you can’t make a decision and stick with it. Cornwall’s waste problem is getting more urgent.

“The Waste Plan will produce electricity and heat from rubbish instead of burying it in a hole in the ground. The new council is producing higher bills for taxpayers instead – spending thousands more on consultants to confirm that this is a good plan.

“The Waste Plan was decided democratically, the £427 million contract was awarded in 2006 by the Lib Dems and since then councillors have dithered, argued and shrugged off responsibility while the problem gets more urgent by the day.

“Initial estimates were that delays are costing taxpayers £9 million a year minimum and this could rise to £160 million in future years.”

In answer to questions regarding the decision-making over the contract with Sita, Jude was told that there are no formal partnership arrangements between the council and Sita in ‘Sita Cornwall’, the company awarded the contract to implement the waste plans but authority was delegated to officers in the service area.

Responses also revealed that officers have asked that ‘re-profiling’ at United Downs is put on hold because of the refusal – leaving the way open for continued use of the site for landfill despite promises made to local people that it would close in 2010.

Councillors have delegated decisions over the contract with Sita to Council Officers, following the planning committee refusal to give permission for the Energy from Waste plant at St Dennis.

This means that the Council is paying its own legal officers to defend the planning refusal even though the consensus is that the appeal by Sita has a good chance of succeeding. Sita has a £1 million budget to fight the appeal.

Other news from Cornwall Labour

• Hundreds sign Falmouth for Orders petition - 30 January 2012
• Labour and unions campaign for dredging the port of Falmouth - 18 January 2012
• Regional funding put at risk by ministers' failure to act - 8 January 2012