Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1) Summary of Decision Area

1.1. This report summarises the key items in relation to Project Integra (PI) Action Plan 2009-2014 "It's Not Just Waste".

1.2. The PI is a five year plan. Hampshire County Council supports the Action Plan and will commit direct resources to identified priority work areas as indicated in the Partner Implementation Plan.

1.3. There is concern that insufficient resources from all partner authorities have been identified to support the delivery of the plan. Individual partners should ensure appropriate resources are clearly identified and targeted towards the delivery of the agreed priority work areas.

1.4. Where it is not possible to deliver against the Action Plan, due to insufficient partner resources, this should be communicated at the earliest opportunity.

2) Issues Covered in Report

2.1. Project Integra's headline objective is to focus on effective delivery of waste and resource management services, working towards a series of targets related to the waste hierarchy, for waste minimisation, recycling and diversion from landfill.

2.2. The purpose of the action plan is to:

(i) set out the strategic context in which PI works at local, regional, national and international level and the links to the partnership's own strategic objectives;

(ii) formally review progress made by the partnership over the past 12 months that highlights the added value of the partnership;

(iii) provide a framework to assist in the delivery of PI's key strategic objectives over the next five years to March 2014;

(iv) set out the key work streams to be delivered by the partnership over the 12 months to March 2010; and

(v) outline the resources and performance management arrangements available to ensure delivery of those key work streams.

2.4 The above programme is intended to ensure the continued improvement and efficiency to waste management practices in Hampshire.

3) Recommendation

It is recommended that:

3.1. The attached draft Project Integra Action Plan 2009-2014 "It's Not Just Waste" be approved.

MAIN REPORT

1) Contextual Information

1.1. This is the eighth annual Project Integra (PI) Action Plan and has been prepared in accordance with the constitution. The draft Action Plan was prepared and endorsed by the annual general meeting of the PI Strategic Board held in January. The draft plan is then considered by each of the partners' authorities. On approval by the partners, the plan then becomes the approved annual Action Plan and forms the framework within which the Board Members may make decisions on behalf of partner authorities.

1.2. Partner authorities may approve the draft action plan, subject to a reservation in respect of any particular matter on which they have a concern.

1.3. This year's action plan reflects significant Hampshire County Council influence in shaping the plan, involving a very successful Members' event in June 2008.

1.4. Although this year's plan better reflects the `added value' provided by the Project Integra partnership this needs to be strengthened further through the performance reporting system.

1.5. The action plan sets out five strategic outcomes, which the partnership aims to deliver over the next five years in order to meet its long term objectives. Each strategic outcome contains a number of specific work streams which the partnership will deliver over the next 12 months.

1.6. The key programme in the Action Plan for 2009/10 will be the review of collection and processing systems for recycling, as part of the development of the strategic outcome `Sustainable and Ethical Recycling'. It is proposed that a business case is produced for the delivery of recycling collection and processing infrastructure, for the next two-five years, in spring 2010. This programme of work will contribute to the County Council priority of delivering future waste infrastructure.

1.7. There is concern that although Hampshire County Council has committed what it considers to be sufficient resources to support the delivery of the plan, the partnership as a whole needs to be realistic about the overall resource requirements. It is recommended that the plan reflects the need for individual partners to ensure that appropriate resources from their authorities are clearly identified and targeted towards these priority work areas.

1.8. Copies of the draft plan have been placed in the Members' Rooms and for public inspection at the Information Centre in Winchester. It can also be viewed on the PI website, www.integra.org.uk.

2) Outline of Options

2.1. The Action Plan has been developed in consultation with all PI partners.

3) Conclusions

3.1. The PI Action Plan 2009-2014 sets out the strategic outcomes which the partnership aims to deliver over the next five years in order to meet its long term objectives within the wider context.

3.2. The Action Plan reaffirms the need to all partner authorities to deliver services more effectively and efficiently, including joint working where appropriate. The plan continues to benefit from a more open and inclusive process involving many examples of the partnership at its best.

3.3. Although the Action Plan now has much clearer priorities it is proposed that the plan be approved, subject to concerns being made about appropriate and sufficient resources being made available by partner authorities to deliver on the Action Plan objectives, as raised in paragraph 1.7 of this report.

4) Recommendation

Please see Executive Summary for recommendation.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

COMPREHENSIVE RISK & IMPACT ASSESSMENT:

1) Equalities Impact Assessment:

a) The Project Integra Action Plan 2009-2014 will not compromise the County Council's policy on race and equalities.

2) Impact on Crime and Disorder:

a) The Project Integra Action Plan 2009-2014 will not compromise the County Council's policy on the prevention of crime.

3) Climate Change:

a) The County Council is committed to ensure that all its current and proposed future activities within the Project Integra partnership are managed to ensure that its energy consumption/carbon impact is minimised.

b) Policies and plans are in place to ensure that all current activities are resilient to the impacts of climate change, both in the short and long term.