17 June 2012

Councillors rubbish rubbish proposal

Wellington City Councillors have voted against establishing a council controlled organisation (CCO) to manage the city’s future waste services with Porirua City Council.

Consultation undertaken as part of the 10 year ‘Long-Term Plan’ process asked for feedback about how the council could work in partnership with Porirua City Council. Mixed views were received and issues included the loss of council’s ability to control the waste stream and a reduction in the quality of service to ratepayers.

Councillor Paul Eagle who put up the amendment said submissions received from his ward alone showed that over two thirds of residents were opposed to the Happy Valley tip being transferred to a CCO and the council’s waste unit, CitiOperations, being outsourced or privatised. “With the waste sector being worth $400m to local government nationally, the community is telling us they want direct council control of waste collection, transport and disposal – not an arms-length delivery mechanism.”

Many councillors were stunned to learn this week that 30 plus staff from CitiOperations had been made redundant in the last few months. “It seems it was a done deal as staff were handed their notices before consultation had been completed,” says Councillor Bryan Pepperell.

Proceeding any further with the establishment of a CCO to manage joint waste services was deemed unnecessary in the current environment. “We’re already working well with Porirua City Council in a joint committee arrangement” said Councillor Leonie Gill. Other models for working together in the future with all councils across the region have not been ruled out and a review of waste will take place in August. Councillors were also mindful of the local government reform proposals for greater Wellington and the Government’s Local Government Act 2002 Amendment Bill introduced to the House last week.

A councillor only meeting was held recently about CCOs. This has led to the first major review of arms-length companies owned by council. Supporter of the amendment, Councillor John Morrison, said, “The review needs to take place first before establishing any new CCOs. It’s absolutely vital that CCOs are all on the same page as council - they’re there primarily to deliver on council’s vision”. The relevance of CCOs is a key part of the review.

A further amendment on council’s future role in the provision of yellow rubbish bags and a waste collection service was affirmed unanimously.

Councillor Helene Ritchie said the collection of rubbish was a fundamental public service and is crucial to public health.

Councillors were concerned with the aims of private waste collectors as they run counter to councils’ waste minimisation responsibilities. The Waste Minimisation Act (2008) requires all councils to minimise waste but the same obligations do not apply to the waste industry. “The only way to make more money out of rubbish is to have more rubbish,” Councillor Justin Lester said.

Councillor Stephanie Cook said the broader environmental effects must be emphasised, such as greenhouse gas emissions, traffic congestion and the wear and tear on roads. She said the effects of several vehicles collecting kerbside waste from households are much greater than for a single vehicle doing the same job.

Both amendments will be ratified at the full council meeting on Wednesday 27 June.

The five councillors who supported the motion put by Councillor Paul Eagle and seconded by Councillor Justin Lester were Councillors Bryan Pepperell, Helene Ritchie, John Morrison, Stephanie Cook and Leonie Gill.

ENDS

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