The West London Waste Authority meeting scheduled for Tuesday 17 March 2026 was set to cover the Authority's Business Plan for 2026/27, a finance report for January 2026, and an update on People and Culture matters. The meeting's agenda also included the minutes from the previous meeting held on 20 January 2026.

Business Plan 2026/27

The Authority was scheduled to consider its Business Plan for the upcoming financial year, 2026/27. This plan outlines the Authority's objectives for making West London a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable region. Key priorities for the year include delivering core service improvements, investing in people and organisational culture, and fostering stronger partnerships with the six boroughs. The plan details a commitment to reducing residual waste, building resilient infrastructure, and creating social and economic value for communities. Specific actions for the year include embedding continuous improvement, delivering on projects like Circular Economy Hubs, building transfer and processing infrastructure, and ensuring the safe operation of the Abbey Road site. The plan also addresses people-focused initiatives such as strengthening internal and external communication, investing in skills and development, and improving resource planning. Partnership actions include establishing governance for partnership groups, completing HRRC surveys, and developing business cases for wider HRRC funding. The financial implications of the plan highlight potential legislative risks and the Authority's strategy to mitigate these through enhanced partnership working and a single-system approach.

Finance Report - January 2026

The meeting was to receive an update on the Authority's financial position for January 2026, including the year-end forecast and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) position. The report was expected to detail the financial performance against budget, with a forecast surplus of £1.1 million for the year. It was also to provide an update on the progress of the 2024/25 audit, particularly concerning accounting adjustments related to the Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract. A Treasury Management update, in line with CIPFA's prudential code, was also scheduled. A key recommendation was to approve delegated authority to the Interim Managing Director to allocate £2.4 million from the £8.0 million earmarked HRRC investment fund. This fund is designated for investments across all six boroughs' Household Reuse and Recycling Centre (HRRC) facilities to ensure a common operational standard.

People and Culture Update

An update on People and Culture matters was scheduled, focusing on the recruitment of a permanent Managing Director and the Authority's People and Culture KPIs. The report was to note the decision to pause the recruitment process for the Managing Director until after the May 2026 local elections, citing the effectiveness of interim leadership and no operational risk in delaying the appointment. The update was also to cover the results of the Annual Employee Engagement Survey, which indicated positive momentum and improved staff sentiment. Key areas of focus identified from the survey include investing in growth and opportunities, embedding consistency in values and behaviours, creating clarity, providing certainty, and addressing workload resilience. The report was also to highlight that most People and Culture KPIs are meeting targets, with Sickness Absence being the exception, currently rated amber due to long-term absences.