Jude Robinson is urging Cornwall Councillors to get a grip of urgent waste issues before taxpayers suffer more cuts and higher council tax as a result.

Lack of leadership and political infighting over waste is costing Cornwall taxpayers £millions and could lead to broken promises over landfill at United Mines, according to information obtained by Jude under the Freedom of Information Act.

Jude said:

My message to councillors is this: “For goodness' sake, get on with it because it is the taxpayers who will pay if you can't make a decision and stick with it.  

"Cornwall's waste problem is getting more urgent.  

"The plan is to produce electricity and heat from rubbish instead of burying it in a hole in the ground.  It is a good plan and was decided after full consultation and investigation.  The new council has now spent thousands more on consultants to confirm that.

"The Waste Plan was decided democratically, the £427 million contract was awarded in 2006 by the Lib Dems and since then councillors have dithered, argued and shrugged off responsibility while the problem gets more urgent by the day.

“Initial estimates were that this is costing taxpayers £9 million a year minimum and this could rise to £160 million in future years.”   


In answer to questions regarding the decision making over the contract with Sita, Jude was told that there are no formal partnership arrangements between the council and Sita in 'Sita Cornwall', the company awarded the contract to implement the waste plans but authority was delegated to officers in the service area.

Responses also revealed that officers have asked that ‘reprofiling’ at United Downs is put on hold because of the refusal – leaving the way open for continued use of the site for landfill despite promises made to local people that it would close in 2010.

Councillors have delegated decisions over the contract with Sita to Council Officers, following the planning committtee refusal to give permission for the Energy from Waste plant at St Dennis.

This means that the Council is paying its own legal officers to defend the planning refusal even though the consensus is that the appeal by Sita has a good chance of succeeding.  Sita has a £1 million budget to fight the appeal.


Notes to Editors


FOI RESPONSE IAR-002588

"The constitution contains specific delegated authority to each Director to act in relation to any matter within the service area for which he/ she is responsible. Furthermore there is a specific delegation to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to defend proceedings. The Cabinet member has been kept fully informed of the appeal and members have been briefed that the appeal is to be robustly defended.

FOI RESPONSE IAR-002698

Waste PFI Board
27 March 2009  

Landfill Sites

•    Without the CERC, will need to utilise United Mines and extend Connon Bridge. Reprofiling of United Mines will need to be put on hold.
•    May need to consider investigation of merchant capacity / banning commercial and industrial waste from being landfilled at UM or CB. Will require a report to the new Executive.