The West London Waste Authority meeting scheduled for Tuesday 20 January 2026 was set to discuss the authority's budget for the upcoming financial year, alongside updates on strategic partnerships, people and culture initiatives, and operational contracts. The meeting's agenda also included a review of the minutes from the previous meeting.

2026-27 Budget

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to the proposed budget for the 2026-27 financial year. The report outlined a projected increase in levies of 1%, driven by anticipated waste volumes and contractual inflationary pressures. The budget also detailed a new staffing structure with no overall permanent growth, but including interim support to address audit recommendations and manage programme delivery. The report highlighted a strategic focus on reducing residual waste, consistent with previous years' objectives. It also noted the intention to disburse any excess reserves to constituent boroughs by the end of March 2026, acknowledging the financial challenges faced by local authorities. The report included detailed financial tables outlining the proposed budget, income, and expenditure, with a breakdown between business-as-usual costs and those funded by PPP income. Specific attention was given to Waste Transport and Disposal costs, which constitute the largest part of the budget, and the impact of inflation, which is partially mitigated by the PPP contract. The report also detailed proposed changes to depreciation, financing costs, premises, employee budgets, supplies and services, revenue funding of debt, concession accounting adjustments, and other income streams. The budget also included a breakdown of the Pay As You Throw (PAYT) Levy and Fixed Cost Levy (FCL) split, along with proposed disposal rates for various waste materials. The report also detailed the Authority's capital budget requirements for 2026-27, including funding for bulking facilities at Victoria Road and works at Abbey Road transfer station. A comprehensive review of reserves was presented, identifying risks and proposing levels to manage them, alongside earmarked reserves from EPR funding and PPP income. The Medium- and Long-Term Strategy (MTFS) was also updated, incorporating the proposed budget and outlining assumptions for residual waste growth and inflation, while also highlighting the potential impact of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) from 2028. Borough responses to the budget consultation were summarised, with common themes including concerns about the RPIx level, the sharing of individual borough data, and the use of council tax base figures for levy calculations.

Strategic Partnership Update

The meeting was scheduled to receive an update on the progress of the new Strategic Partnership Board, which was due to hold its first meeting on 29 January 2026. This board aims to foster a collaborative approach to upcoming legislative requirements, such as Simpler Recycling and Emissions Trading Schemes, with the goal of ensuring effective waste processing, minimising costs, and improving environmental outcomes. The report detailed the key principles of the partnership, including a shared vision, mutual respect, transparency, and adaptability. Membership of the board was outlined, with Nicky Fielder nominated as Chair. The report identified three key areas of focus for the board: future legislative requirements and investment, including the utilisation of £6 million of EPR funding; the collective approach to investing in and improving Household Reuse and Recycling Centres (HRRCs), with an initial allocation of £2.4 million for boroughs; and new technologies and future opportunities, such as sustainable aviation fuel and anaerobic waste treatment.

People and Culture Update

An update was provided on significant progress within the People and Culture department, focusing on implementing organisational changes. Key developments included leadership restructuring to better support the Authority's priorities, active change management during a transition phase, and efforts to address challenges such as limited resources and staff absences. The report highlighted a commitment to strengthening organisational capability and resilience, with a focus on recruitment, staff development, and culture change initiatives. Specific actions to address recommendations from the Value for Money (VfM) audit report were noted, alongside the proposed development of an Organisational Excellence Framework. The report detailed efforts to align with strategic priorities, including the transition from a Chief Executive to a Managing Director model, and the recruitment of key positions to reinforce operational strength. Improvements in staff sentiment, as indicated by a recent pulse survey, were also highlighted, with a full engagement survey planned. The report also touched upon policy updates, governance, and continuous improvement efforts.

Contracts and Operations Update

This report provided an update on the Authority's waste treatment arrangements. Key points included the planned phased re-opening of Abbey Road transfer station to trade waste customers from 2 February 2026, with options appraisals for reconstruction works ongoing. The report also noted that the procurement for the Dry Recyclables contract was underway, with a new contract scheduled to commence on 06 June 2026. The report detailed the performance of key operational contracts, including those for residual waste transport and disposal, food waste, garden waste, and dry mixed recycling. It highlighted that residual waste tonnage was marginally lower than the previous year, which was seen as a positive outcome. The report also provided an update on Abbey Road HRRC and Waste Transfer Station, noting stabilised staffing levels and strengthened operational leadership. Health and safety remained a priority, with reviews of site controls and reporting processes. The report also outlined the forward plan for contracts requiring new procurement or extensions over the next 12 months.