Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill

I hope that I can reassure the noble Lord on his questions. I understand that he has considerable expertise in this area. I am delighted that his amendment has raised these matters and provided an opportunity to discuss the issue of joint waste authorities. As he said, the amendments seek to clarify the relationship between waste disposal authorities and their waste collection authorities in two-tier areas where a joint waste authority is proposed or established without the waste disposal function. The Government welcome the efforts to strengthen the ability of local authorities in two-tier areas to work together, but we cannot accept these amendments. Some of the issues raised in the amendments are already addressed in the Bill or will be clarified in secondary legislation. However, some of the elements in the amendments could—it may be a remote possibility—hinder local authorities’ ability to realise efficiencies. Amendments Nos. 238ZS and 238ZT would oblige waste collection authorities to consult their respective waste disposal authorities about any proposal to establish a joint waste authority, and to invite them to participate in making such a proposal. We consider that the requirement to consult waste disposal authorities is already covered in Clause 207 by the inclusion of, "““any interested person in the authority's area””." We think that inviting the waste disposal authority to join a joint waste authority goes a step too far. We agree that waste collection authorities need to consult their waste disposal authorities when considering the establishment of a joint waste authority, and the Government will place a strong emphasis on the need for collection authorities to engage with disposal authorities in the Secretary of State’s guidance. However, although in these circumstances waste collection authorities must consult waste disposal authorities, we do not think that it is appropriate to force them to join with waste disposal authorities or to miss the opportunity to gain economies of scale by entering into a joint waste authority of their own. I wish that I could appreciate the joke on the Benches opposite. I believe that it concerns a mobile phone. Perhaps a waste authority is ringing to give advice; that is brilliant. Amendment No. 238ZV is unnecessary. The powers of waste disposal authorities to direct waste collection authorities, whether they are in a joint waste authority or not, will be unaffected by the Bill. I hope that—