The West London Waste Authority meeting scheduled for 3 December 2024 was set to discuss the authority's budget for the upcoming financial year, alongside updates on food recycling initiatives and a consultation response regarding remote attendance at meetings.

2025/26 Budget

A significant portion of the meeting was scheduled to be dedicated to the proposed budget for the 2025/26 financial year. The report outlined an anticipated 8% increase in levies, amounting to £6.2 million, primarily driven by an increase in waste transport and disposal costs. This rise is largely attributed to borough waste growth, with residual waste tonnages projected to increase by 6% in 2025/26. The budget also factored in inflationary increases, a rise in trade waste income, and interest on investments.

Key recommendations for the budget included approving the 2025/26 budget for consultation, endorsing the budget for work funded by PPP income, and approving specific Pay As You Throw (PAYT) rates and Fixed Cost Levy (FCL) amounts. The report also proposed approving a new capital budget and the rollover of existing capital budgets, alongside setting a target level of reserves at £31.4 million to manage risks. The medium and long-term financial plan was also to be noted.

The report highlighted that continuous tonnage increases within residual waste would drive levies up, making them unaffordable for boroughs. It stressed the need for collaborative solutions to reduce residual waste, particularly in areas like food, textiles, e-waste, and plastics. The budget also detailed a £2.8 million programme of work over three years, funded from the Authority's share of PPP income, aimed at delivering carbon and financial savings to boroughs, with a significant focus on the Social Value and Reuse programme linked to the Household Reuse and Recycling Centre (HRRC) proposal.

Food Recycling Projects Update

An update was provided on the Authority's investment in borough business cases, funded with £3 million in 2020, to increase food waste collection and reduce residual waste. The report indicated that while the number of households participating in food recycling services had increased across all boroughs, the volume of food waste remaining in the residual stream was still significant, estimated at approximately 130,000 tonnes per annum, costing around £13 million annually.

The update detailed progress in each borough, including the expansion of services to flats and businesses. Despite the progress, the report noted that the capture rate for food waste, reflecting the proportion of total food waste collected by the food recycling service, varied across boroughs. The Authority was asked to note the remaining food waste in the residual stream and to approve the creation of a joint citizen assembly to address waste growth and food waste by June 2025. The report also highlighted that the Environment Act 2021 includes a requirement for every household to receive a separate food waste collection service.

Remote Attendance Consultation Response

The meeting was scheduled to consider the West London Waste Authority's response to a government consultation on allowing elected members to attend formal council meetings remotely. The proposed response indicated support for some virtual meetings but advocated for core meetings to remain in person, given the limited opportunities for West London Waste Authority members and officers to meet face-to-face.

The consultation response suggested that members should only be able to attend council meetings remotely in exceptional circumstances, such as for medical reasons or during emergencies. It also proposed that councils should be permitted to set arrangements for remote attendance for up to 20% of meetings. The response also addressed procedural measures to ensure workable and efficient remote or hybrid attendance policies, including publishing lists of attendees and ensuring standard constitutional arrangements are followed. The Authority was asked to review the draft consultation response and affirm the benefits of both virtual and in-person meetings for a joint waste disposal authority operating across boroughs and parties.