Council may take control of bin collections

Peterborough City Council has recommended directly employing waste collection staff

City-wide waste collection and street cleaning services could be taken under public control.

Peterborough City Council has recommended cabinet members agree to in-source waste collection services currently carried out by a private company.

It recommends serving 12 months' notice on a contract, worth roughly £15m a year, with the council-owned firm Peterborough Limited (PL), which operates under the Aragon brand

Angus Ellis, Labour cabinet member for environment and transport, said: "We want to have more control over how these services are provided."

He added: "I would like to assure all staff that we will keep them informed and updated as things progress."

Angus Ellis, a Labour councillor, said the move would give the council more control

PL is operated at arm's length from the council, with its own board and separate employment contracts with workers, such as bin collectors.

Aragon carries out recycling and waste collection, street cleaning and fly-tipping clearance on behalf of the council under an agreement that began in February 2019.

It is also responsible for other services, such as parks and open spaces, home-to-school transport routes, workshops, facilities management and properties.

About 400 staff members are involved in the move, which would see these services gradually transition to the council over the coming year.

PL also runs leisure and culture facilities, including Flag Fen and Peterborough Museum and Art Gallery, under a different brand, Peterborough Culture, Heritage, Learning and Leisure, which is not part of the proposals.

The council said bin collection schedules would not be affected, and insisted that the move was not a cost-cutting exercise.

Cabinet members are due to vote on the proposals at a meeting on 11 March.