Liberal Democrats welcome joint working on waste

12.07.00am GMT Wed 15th Nov 2006

Liberal Democrats have welcomed the proposal for Northamptonshire County Council and Milton Keynes Council to work together in the procurement of Waste Disposal Facilities. The Cabinets of both Councils have now agreed to move to the next stage by commissioning a full business plan.

Earlier in the year both councils agreed to an appraisal to establish the pros and cons of joint working - and the results are now in. The appraisal was highly successful and proved that millions of pounds should be saved by having a joint Waste Disposal Facility. This new facility would process non-recycled rubbish to further reduce the need to landfill - a benefit both to the environment and to the council taxpayer. A site in Milton Keynes has already been indentified.

Cllr. Jane Hollis, Liberal Democrat County Spokesperson for the Environment said: "I am delighted that the County will be working with the Liberal Democrat run Milton Keynes Council for the mutual benefit of our residents. The economies of scale involved mean both Councils will be able to save their local Council Tax payers millions of pounds."

Both Councils are growth areas and may be hit harder than other Councils by the Government's Landfill Allowance Trading Scheme (LATS), which fines Councils who put too much rubbish into landfill, but doesn't take account of growing populations.

Milton Keynes Lib Dem Cabinet Member for the Environment Cllr. Douglas McCall added: "We have a lot in common with Northants. We are both growth areas and we are both opposed to incineration. It makes sense for us to work together on waste disposal whilst helping both the environment and Council taxpayers."