SEPTEMBER 2021

Babergh District Councillor Alastair McCraw

RUBBISH

August is often a quieter month as far as meetings go. Like many, I had a long overdue holiday recently in the UK. It's peculiar as you go round Britain what things you find yourself observing.

In my case this was different waste collection arrangements in other authorities and how massive some authorities Car Parking Charges are. I am obviously a very sad individual in this respect. In one area, I saw six separate collection bins being used. These included 2 separate bins for coloured or clear glass, general waste, separated plastics, card and paper and garden waste.

That might seem a lot, and the house was a holiday let, but it's likely to be the way things will go everywhere in the next few years. The government are launching a long-term consultation with collecting authorities across the country to improve waste collection and recycling rates. Although recycling rates once rose, they've since dipped. We are not the worst in the world, but we are by no means the best. We also have a disturbing habit of exporting our rubbish pointlessly. The aim will be to collect six streams of waste nationally. It won't be as simple as that, of course and the process is aiming to complete around 2024-25.

Authorities need to have a few things in place first though. The different vehicles, perhaps with compartments, the disposal and treatment facilities and the people to staff all of these. And those will cost money, a question that has been asked by all of us. Who will pay for all this? Some grant money will need to be made available to get these projects going in the first place.

The government's intention is to establish the principle that the manufacture of goods will pay by some levy system. That's where the consultation is likely to get difficult, no matter how worthy and environmentally necessary all this is. I have my doubts honestly, given the limited taxes paid by some companies, whether they'll stump up or just pass the cost on to us, the consumers.

But consider this, it currently costs £2 million a year to dispose of food waste alone in Suffolk. If we could even cut that in half, what better things could be done with the money? How much slow-release methane from landfill would there be?

LOCALITY BUDGET

I'm very happy to say that Babergh councillors will be able to use a Locality Budget for community projects in their ward for only the 2nd year. Thanks go to Derek Davis, our relevant Cabinet member, for pressing for this to continue. It's only £2000 per member, and that must last until the end of the Council Year in March. The minimum grant is £250, so you can see that only 8 grants could be made at best.

Last year, I was able to support the Under 11's girls' team at Brantham Leisure Centre for Team Kit, the Bowls Club, The Methodist Church toward their kitchen works, The Parish Council for the second Speed Indicator Device and the very solid new picnic benches at Gravel Pit Lane Play area, and the Brantham Bugle the always essential village magazine.

That should give you an idea of the sort of thing that would be eligible. If anybody has a project in mind, just contact me and we can discuss it. There's a simple form because we are using public money here.

CONTACT POINTS.

Gov.uk. / Babergh.gov.uk. / 0300 123 4000 / Suffolk.gov.uk/ tendringdc.gov.uk

If you need to tell me anything important, please just phone or email me. I can guarantee a response there. I've been enjoying more summer sport, the Olympics, and forthcoming Paralympics. The Women's Tour of Britain will also be nearby for its final two stages in early October. Please stay safe in the meantime. I hope you too can enjoy the holiday break we all deserve.

Alastair McCraw. 07812 564188 OR 07548 154296 [email protected]

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