Another consultation from Cheshire East 

Yes, you heard that right – Cheshire East has launched yet another consultation – this one on household waste recycling.

Forgive the cynicism but I was under the impression that the council had already decided to close down three recycling centres – including Bollington and Poynton.

Having decided to close them down we’re now being asked how recycling could be provided in the future. Just how does that work?

Think on, the council has already decided to scrap the school meals service and our libraries are on borrowed time. No doubt ‘consultations’ will be in the pipeline.

Cheshire East Council tells us it “wants to deliver a service that enables residents to recycle and dispose of their waste responsibly but is also within the limits of what is affordable over the coming years.”

Here’s a solution – keep the recycling centres open!

Of course through their ineptitude they’re having to address a four-year funding gap of £100m – while continuing to support those who need help the most across the borough. 

Here’s another idea – slash the wages of the council’s executives – many of whom earn well over £100,000 a year.

The current salary package of the Chief Executive is an eye-watering £159,405.

Tier 2 employees (heads of departments) who report directly to the Chief Executive) – £123,679 to £140,283

Tier 3 employees – who report to the Tier 2 managers – £80,955 to £109,180.

The prime minister of the UK earns circa £75,000 – less than a council tier 3 employee!

No doubt there are several more tiers of management within Cheshire East Council until we get to the bottom of the pile – the people who actually do any work.

Whilst the council tell us “no final decision on how household waste recycling centre ( HWRC ) services are provided in the future has yet been made, and the council is now consulting on ideas and proposals so that a final recommendation can be developed” you can take it from me they’ve already made their minds up as what will be happening.

I’ll give you a clue – more cuts!

The consultation will close on 16 June 2024. Take part. 

Councillor Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council’s environment and communities committee, said: “The council currently runs seven  HWRCs across the borough and these provide a variety of services to our residents. 

“All sites need major investment to ensure that they are well-equipped and up to modern standards, and this is on top of the significant annual running costs of the sites, which continue to rise. 

“Setting the council’s medium-term financial strategy ( MTFS ) for 2024-2028 and agreeing our budget for 2024/25 was extremely challenging, and to protect essential services we must continue to make very difficult decisions about how key services in the borough are delivered. 

“This includes  HWRCs – any savings not delivered through this service review must be found elsewhere.  

“A key aspect of the final recommendation that is developed for  HWRCs will be a focus on delivering a service that promotes waste prevention and reduction so that ultimately, less waste ends up at our  HWRCs and the impact on the environment is reduced.  

“We also have the opportunity to look at how we can make the service more accessible for people who don’t drive and for those that live in more rural areas where they are further away from a HWRCs .” 

To inform the  HWRC consultation, the council commissioned industry experts to assess the management and operation of  HWRCs in Cheshire East, which included assessing four core options for the future of the service. 

These options were presented to the environment and communities committee in September last year and were approved for public consultation. 

The options, which people are now invited to share their views on, are: 

• All  HWRCs remain open as they are now.  
• Poynton  HWRC is closed.  
• Bollington  HWRC is closed. 
• Bollington, Middlewich and Poynton  HWRCs are closed.

The council is also asking people for their feedback on introducing mobile HWRCs , which some other councils already have and usually consist of staffed collection vehicles that visit public spaces once a month on a rotating schedule. 

Feedback is also sought on introducing a booking system, which would manage people’s waiting times and the flow of traffic into the sites. 

The final recommendation presented back to the environment and communities committee in autumn this year will consider the outcome of the public consultation, the affordability of the options presented, and up to date site user data. This data includes visitor numbers for each HWRC , and information about where people are travelling from to the different sites. 

Have they disposed of Park Green public conveniences yet? If not, it would make a most suitable headquarters for Cheshire East Council – just think of the money they’d (we’d) save!