Archived decisions

Contact: Ian Avery, ext 6264 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 There is a growing debate, at both European and national levels, about the need for a new approach to dealing with the problem of waste. The idea is that increasingly there should be a move to looking at waste materials as a useful resource rather than something to be disposed of by landfill. As well as having environmental benefits, this approach offers economic development opportunities in making new materials and products. There is also potential to reduce the impact of new legislation and regulations that are increasing costs of conventional waste disposal to industry and the counciltax payers.

1.2 The County Council has been one of the leading local authorities in driving this debate, including in response to local community concerns about the impacts of mineral extraction, ever-increasing waste volumes and a shortage of conventional waste management sites.

1.3 During 2004 the County Council, working in partnership with Southampton and Portsmouth City Councils and Project Integra, enabled the development of a cross-sector stakeholder vision as to how minerals and waste needs should be managed in Hampshire. The outcome, a report called `More from Less', endorsed the `materials resource management' philosophy and set out suggestions for actions in moving forward. A key part of the stakeholder agenda was the need to influence Government and other national organisations to create a supportive climate for change.

1.4 This agenda has now been taken up by the Local Government Association (LGA). The LGA has published a consultation highlighting the role local authorities can play in minimising the need for new materials (eg aggregates) and moving from the historic approach of treating waste as a problem, to one where unwanted materials and products are seen as a resource to be recovered and reused. A copy of the full consultation document, entitled `Local Government-Naturally Resourceful: Leading the Way to Better Use of Material Resources' is available in the Members' Room.

2. Corporate Strategy

2.1 The ideas set out in this report support the delivery of a range of Corporate Aims, particularly:

(i) Aim 2: Stewardship of the Environment - Natural Resources: Promoting the use of renewable and recyclable resources;

(ii) Aim 3: Achieving Economic Prosperity - Support of Businesses in Hampshire: Promoting investment in more efficient use of natural resources; and

(iii) Aim 5: Improving Services - Managing resources.

3. Summary of Consultation

3.1 The consultation describes a number of ways in which local authorities can have a beneficial impact on the local economy and the environment in this context. In addition to the traditional statutory functions for minerals and waste, the opportunities include displaying leadership in the community and `practising what they preach' in relation to the way councils operate as large businesses. These requirements impact on a wide range of corporate activities; including procurement, construction, premises management, economic development and education.

3.2 Ten `impact areas' where councils can make a difference are set out below:

(i) Join-up and improve services for local businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, by helping them improve their environmental performance, comply with regulations and save money;

(ii) Provide more opportunities for local industry to improve resource and waste management by providing local information about support programmes and bringing people and organisations together;

(iii) Work with farmers, etc to provide information as part of local business support or countryside initiatives;

(iv) Improve material use in construction and demolition by supporting recovery and re-use of materials and specifying their use;

(v) Close the loop locally by buying recycled products, developing markets and promoting sustainable production. In the UK it is estimated that local government alone spends £40 billion on goods, works and service - this spending power could be a major driver of change.

(vi) Use recycled materials in highways and estates management, where possible doing recycling on site;

(vii) Reduce quarrying and meet mineral needs more sustainably by linking policies which encourage the use of recycled aggregates;

(viii) Develop a material resources strategy, drawing together the links between the actions across all sectors ;

(ix) Make space for infrastructure and sites, recognising that new and different types of infrastructure and facilities will be needed in future; and

(x) Link up with municipal waste management, by considering all material resources and waste management issues holistically across an area.

3.3 A number of good practice case studies are set out, including three examples from Hampshire. These highlight the position of the County Council as a leading local authority in moving forward on the material resources agenda.

3.4 The consultation asks three key questions:

(i) What ideas are there for the role local government can play in improving the management of material resources?

(ii) What more could Central Government do?

(iii) Are there further examples of good practice?

4. Next Steps

4.1 The LGA intends to take into account consultation responses received and publish a final Material Resources document in summer 2005. The aim will be to provide councils with guidance and to lobby Government to put in place an enabling environment to achieve much more.

4.2 At a local level the County Council has already made significant progress in addressing many of the `impact areas' set out above. However, there is still more that can be done to join up services and ensure integrated and holistic responses to these issues.

5. Conclusion

5.1 The LGA consultation on `Leading the Way to the Better Use of Material Resources' is warmly welcomed. The County Council has played a key role in influencing its production, the content of which is in line with both community and corporate aspirations. The County Council is well placed to respond to the challenges set out and work needs to continue in developing the approach across all departments.

Recommendation

That the Committee considers whether it wishes to undertake a cross-cutting review of the approach by Hampshire County Council and possibly other local authorities in Hampshire, with a view to encouraging best practice.

428/IA