BOSSES at Malvern Hills District Council have insisted it remains keen to continue to deliver weekly refuse collections for residents despite announcing its intentions to let an outside private contractor run its waste operations in the future.
According to a council report, published earlier this month, the authority says it plans to join forces with Wychavon District Council in providing a new waste collection service with a new tendering contract set to begin officially in October next year.
The council currently provides an in-house waste service but has been looking into merging with neighbouring councils in the hope of making vital savings to its budget. The district council hopes savings of around £250,000 a year can be made.
Last year it was agreed for Malvern Hills, Wychavon and Worcester City to join forces with a new waste services system so all three authorities would make savings.
But following Worcester City Council’s change of leadership (Conservative to Labour) earlier this year, the council has since pulled out of the three-way scheme – leaving Malvern Hills District Council and Wychavon District Council to negotiate together.
A report which was set for discussion at last night’s (Tuesday) executive meeting of Malvern Hills District Council outlined its intention to make the money-saving scheme become a reality.
It reads: “This judgement (Malvern Hills and Wychavon joining forces) is based on the principle that service efficiencies can still be achieved by the larger scale of operation created by working together and savings are required to contribute to our medium term financial planning.”
When the Observer first reported the plans in August last year, concerns were raised that the joint scheme could lead to refuse collections going fortnightly which the council in reply refused, saying it would ‘safeguard’ its weekly service.
And that message has once again been relayed despite the latest report stating its tendering process would ‘test’ a range of potential service changes including the introduction of alternative weekly collections.
Coun Bronwen Behan, responsible for environment on Malvern Hills District Council, said: “The report merely confirms our intention to continue with the process of exploring a joint waste contract with Wychavon following the decision by Worcester City Council to withdraw from the process.
“No decision has been made to change the refuse collection system in Malvern and our policy is to continue to provide a weekly black sack collection, which we currently have funding for.
“The tendering process will identify the savings which could be made through a joint contract with Wychavon and will include the provision of a weekly refuse collection service in Malvern.”
