Tip closure paused over 'lack of transparency'

Birstall councillors raised concerns about a "lack of transparency" on decisions over the waste site

A decision to close a household recycling site could be paused after councillors decided there had been a “lack of transparency”.

A Kirklees Council committee discussed the closure of the Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC), in Nab Lane, Birstall, as well as reducing hours at two other sites last week.

But they noted that some of the members who voted on the council’s waste disposal strategy earlier might not have realised it could result in the site's closure.

The panel decided the plans should be referred to the council's cabinet for a final decision.

All three Conservative councillors for Birstall spoke at the environment and climate change scrutiny panel meeting, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“We have a duty to make sure the voices of our constituents were heard and in this case they simply have not," said councillor Josh Sheard.

“The lack of transparency erodes trust and local government is supposed to serve the people, not make decisions behind closed doors without consulting the very communities that the decisions that we make are going to affect.”

In a statement earlier this month, the council had said that the plans for HWRCs were approved as part of the money-saving measures included in March’s budget.

However, councillor Mark Thompson told the meeting that there was “no mention” of the closure of any site in the budget document or any other.

Liversedge and Gomersal ward councillor, Lisa Holmes said residents were “furious” about the plans, while councillor John Lawson, who represents Cleckheaton, said it was a “recipe for disaster” to direct residents to Dewsbury’s recycling centre due to the long round trips and delays that would be experienced.

Panel member councillor John Taylor wanted to know more about the decision-making process and asked whether all cabinet members who voted to approve the waste strategy back in April had been aware that this would allow for the closure of a tip.

Executive director for place, David Shepherd, who was named as the decision maker, could confirm that the portfolio holder and then council leader had been aware of the plans, but it did not appear that this was the case for all other cabinet members.

The panel recommended the plans were “paused” and referred back to cabinet for determination.

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