Defra has announced plans, to set up a statutory London Waste and Recycling Board. The Board is intended to help deliver increased sustainable waste management in London. As one of its duties it will manage the London Waste and Recycling Fund, and may also be required to provide advice on strategic London waste issues to London Boroughs and the Mayor.
The Government announced last July, a new London Waste and Recycling Fund with a commitment of £19m in 2008/9, in recognition of London's unique position as the only metropolitan Region, and taking account of the strategic role of the Mayor.
After discussions with stakeholders, Government has now decided that the best approach for London is to put the body to manage this Fund on a statutory footing. This will provide focus, clarity and stability according to Defra.
Defra considers that this approach will respect the strategic role of the Mayor and the delivery role of the Boroughs. The aim is to bring these together and build upon them, to enable delivery of the Mayor's strategy and the Boroughs' obligations.
Ben Bradshaw, Environment Minister
Ben Bradshaw, Environment Minister, said:
"I believe that this framework provides an opportunity for London government at all levels to work constructively together with business and other key stakeholders.
There has been progress on waste and recycling in London, but we are not complacent - we need to continue to drive up performance for more sustainable waste management. The Board will be able to direct the Fund towards issues that London itself identifies as its priorities, including stimulating investment in infrastructure."
Defra says that the Board will focus on getting things done in London. It will not take functions from existing bodies, and it will not be a waste disposal or collection authority.
Readers will no doubt recall that the Mayor of London is not satisfied with the overall waste management situation in the Capital, and still seeks to establish a London wide waste disposal authority which he believes would be more effective in carrying forward his strategy for sustainable waste management.
Liz Meek, Regional Director, Government Office for London, said:
"Government is keen to move forward and to help London deliver. We will work together with London stakeholders over the coming months to agree the detail of the membership and constitution of the Board. We believe that the best way of delivering the necessary step-change in waste management is to bring key stakeholders together in a small and focused body to find practical solutions for a sustainable future."
Further information
The Government announced its intention to create a London Waste and Recycling Fund in July 2006. The details of the fund were to be worked up through consultation with stakeholders.
The Fund was to be created through contributions from the GLA plus re-diversion of the element of existing London local authority waste funding currently provided by the Waste Performance and Efficiency Grant (WPEG).
The financial position will become clearer through decisions in the spending review. Defra considers that on the basis of current figures, a £25 million per annum fund is envisaged, consisting of £19 million from local authority waste funding (WPEG) and £6 million which the GLA have indicated they could make available.
It had been proposed that this funding would be managed by a forum of stakeholders, but the proposed London Waste and Recycling Board now puts the body managing the Fund on statutory footing.
This will complement the additional strengthening of the Mayor's role regarding London's waste in the GLA Bill currently progressing through Parliament, including stronger powers for the Mayor to determine strategic waste planning applications and a requirement for the boroughs to act in general conformity with the Mayors Waste Strategy, according to Defra.