Communities, Housing and Environment Committee

Tuesday 11 December 2018

 

Kent Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy (KJMWMS)

 

Final Decision-Maker

Communities, Housing and Environment Committee

Lead Head of Service/Lead Director

William Cornall, Director of Regeneration and Place

Lead Officer and Report Author

Jennifer Shepherd, Head of Environment and Public Realm

Classification

Public

Wards affected

All

 

Executive Summary

 

A refreshed Kent Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy (KJMWMS) has been agreed by the Kent Resource Partnership (KRP) with the intention for each member authority adopting it.  The refreshed strategy reflects the objectives and vision set out in Maidstone’s own 5-year waste and recycling strategy.

 

 

This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee:

1.   That the refreshed Kent Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy 2018/19 to 2020/21 is adopted.

 

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Communities, Housing and Environment Committee

Tuesday 11 December 2018



Kent Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy (KJMWMS)

 

 

1.      INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

1.1     The 13 Kent councils, who form the Kent Resource Partnership (KRP) – previously known as the Kent Waste Partnership – first adopted the original Kent Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy (KJMWMS) in 2007.  This strategy set out how Kent would manage its resource materials and waste from its households up until 2020. 

 

1.2     The Strategy was reviewed in 2012/13 with the intention to review again in 2016/17.  However due to pending changes to EU legislation and Kent County Council’s Waste Disposal Strategy being prepared, the decision was taken by the Member’s Board of the KRP to delay the refresh until 2018/19.

 

1.3     In September 2017, a workshop, facilitated by Dr Jane Beasley was held with KRP Members and Senior Officers to discuss the refresh of the Strategy.  This was then followed by a 6 week consultation with key stakeholders including packaging designers and producers, retailers, waste management companies, reprocessors, Local and Central Government and environmental organisations.

 

1.4     The Strategy adopted in 2012/13 had three key objectives:

 

-      Deliver the best possible outcomes on materials handled by the KRP from household and other appropriate sources

 

-      Deliver the best possible value for money to the Kent taxpayer taking into account the whole service costs paid through Council Tax

 

-      Secure the best possible outcomes through effective partnership working among the 13 Kent Councils, through the SE7 project, with Government and across the supply chain.

 

1.5     The Strategy then focused on three priorities; Materials security and resource efficiency; Value for money for Kent taxpayers; Supporting Kent’s interests.

 

1.6     In 2013, Maidstone Council formally supported the Kent Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy as it reflected the objectives already adopted locally through Maidstone’s own 5-year Waste and Recycling Strategy.

 

1.7     The refreshed KJMWMS for 2018/19 to 2020/21 has now been prepared based on the feedback from the industry and in July 2018 was adopted by the KRP Members Board with a view for the Strategy to be adopted by each of the 13 member authorities.

 

1.8     The refreshed strategy now contains a clear vision for the next 2 years:

 

The Kent Resource Partnership (KRP) will lead the transformation to a circular economy, where the value of material resources flowing into and through Kent are retained, generating employment, skills and training opportunities, and realising wider economic, environmental, health and wellbeing benefits for the local and regional community and beyond.

 

1.9     The Strategy focuses on maximising the value of our resources, considering whole service costs to ensure value for money to the Kent taxpayer, realising opportunities through effective partnership working and supporting a circular economy for Kent. 

 

1.10 The Strategy sets out specific objectives across Kent for a recycling rate of 50%, a landfill target of less than 2% and a year on year reduction in residual waste per household. 

 

1.11 The objectives are set out under four key policies

 

-      Maximising the value of resources

-      Value for Money for the Kent Taxpayer

-      Engagement, Collaboration and Partnership Working

-      Future thinking

 

1.12 The refreshed strategy is included in Appendix 1.

 

1.13 Alongside the Strategy, the Kent Resource Partnership also prepare an annual report and Materials End Destination Publication which outlines Kent performance and is used to measure a number of the objectives set out in the Strategy.  More information about the Partnership is available online at https://www.kent.gov.uk/about-the-council/partnerships/kent-resource-partnership

 

1.14 It is proposed that a new KJMWMS will be prepared and adopted in 2020/21.

 

 

2.        AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

2.1     The refreshed KJMWMS reflects the objectives and vision of Maidstone’s own 5-year Waste and Recycling Strategy, which was adopted by the Communities, Housing and Environment Committee in 2018.  Therefore the Committee could decide to adopt the KJMWMS to demonstrate its support of the wider objectives across Kent and its commitment to the Kent Resource Partnership.  This will ensure that Maidstone continues to both contribute and benefit from the collaborative approach to waste and resource management across the County as a whole.  This approach has delivered significant savings to the Kent taxpayer over the past few years through consistency of service and maximising the value of the resource collected.

 

2.2     Alternatively the Committee could decide not to adopt the KJMWMS and to deliver its own strategy in isolation.  However there is significant overlap between the two strategies and therefore delivery of Maidstone’s objectives would contribute to the wider Kent objectives. 

 

 

3.        PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

3.1     Given that the refreshed KJMWMS reflects the objectives and vision set out in Maidstone’s Waste and Recycling Strategy 2018-2023, it is recommended that the Committee adopts the refreshed strategy.

 

3.2     Continuing to support the Kent Resource Partnership will ensure that Maidstone contributes to the wider Kent objectives and gains the benefits of collaborative working, including delivering joint communication campaigns, sharing best practice and a greater collective influence on Government policy.  The Kent Resource Partnership has become known for levering in funding and support from the industry as well as influencing government thinking. 

 

 

 

4.       RISK

4.1    There are no risks identified from adopting the refreshed KJMWMS as the objectives and policies are all consistent with Maidstone’s own waste and recycling strategy.

4.2    However there is a reputational risk to the Council if it decides not to adopt the refreshed strategy as it is likely to reflect negatively on Maidstone’s role within the Kent Resource Partnership.  Failure to adopt the KJMWMS would undermine Maidstone’s commitment to the KRP.

 

 

5.   CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

 

5.1     A 6 week consultation was carried out by Beasley Associates on behalf of the Kent Resource Partnership in the development of this refreshed Strategy.  Maidstone Borough Council contributed to the consultation during a workshop held with Members and Senior Officers. 

 

5.2     In September 2018, the Committee adopted Maidstone’s new waste strategy setting out its objectives and vision for the next 5 years. 

 

 

6.       NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

6.1     If the Committee agrees to adopt the KJMWMS, a link to the strategy will be made available on the Council’s website alongside its own Strategy. 

 

 

7.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities

We do not expect the recommendations will by themselves materially affect achievement of corporate priorities.  However, they will support the Council’s overall achievement of its aims as set out in section 3 [preferred alternative].

Head of Environment and Public Realm

Risk Management

The risk identified with not adopting the KJMWMS is outlined in section 4.

Head of Environment and Public Realm

Financial

The proposals set out in the recommendation are all within already approved budgetary headings and so need no new funding for implementation.

 

Head of Finance

Staffing

We will deliver the recommendations with our current staffing.

 

Head of Environment and Public Realm

Legal

The proposals set out in the recommendation are consistent with MBC strategy and do not have any negative legal implications.

 

Team Leader, Contracts and Commissioning

Privacy and Data Protection

No implications

Head of Environment and Public Realm

Equalities

The refreshed KJMWMS and objectives all consistent with Maidstone’s own waste and recycling strategy.  Equalities Impact Assessments will be carried out as and when policies or action plans are developed to support the strategy going forward.



Equalities and Corporate Policy Officer

Crime and Disorder

No implications

Head of Environment and Public Realm

Procurement

No implications

Head of Environment and Public Realm

 

8.        REPORT APPENDICES

 

The following documents are to be published with this report and form part of the report:

·         Appendix 1: Refreshed Kent Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy (KJMWMS) 2018/19 to 2020/21

 

 

9.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

Waste and Recycling Strategy 2018-2023