Waste charges - now Treasury will have a go

Tuesday 10 October 2017

Controversial new waste disposal charges for business have been pushed back another year, and taken out of the hands of the Infrastructure Department.

The plans were supposed to have been finally agreed by the States a few months ago, but they fell apart following a very strong kick-back from business groups, and a critical report from a Scrutiny Panel.

The Panel have now cast doubt on whether an alleged lack of consultation on the charges - one of their key criticisms - will be completed before the elections next year.

Responsibility for both solid and liquid waste charges will be passed from the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) to the Treasury.

The Chief Minister described the move as “reasonable” given that it was a revenue-raising measure, but added that the two departments “must work together.”

Treasury Minister Senator Alan Maclean will now lead efforts to introduce the ‘user pays’ charge to businesses.

Pictured: Responsibility for the charge has moved from the Department for Infrastructure to the Treasury.

The implementation of the liquid waste charge, which could help DfI reclaim £3.85 million annually,  was canned after a report by the Scrutiny Panel tasked with analysing the charge concluded that there had not been sufficient consultation with hotels, restaurants, clubs and other key stakeholders.

Last week’s Draft Budget Statement showed that the introduction of liquid waste charges would be deferred to 2019, with a decision made on both liquid and solid charges to be made next year.

Despite welcoming the extended consultation period, the Scrutiny Panel expressed their dissatisfaction that the views of industry bodies had not already been fully considered.

“Whilst the Panel is pleased that the proposals are to be given further consideration by the Council of Ministers and that a full consultation will now be undertaken, it is disappointed that this work was not carried in the first instance. As far as the Panel is aware, it is possible that the consultation may not be completed during the term of the present Assembly,” the Panel said in a statement.

They have since renewed their vows to “keep abreast of any matters that arise in regards to the proposals” and have said that they will “ensure that the Minister for Treasury and Resources” takes their recommendations into consideration when developing revised proposals.