Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence from those Members who are unable to attend the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Matthew McLoughlin

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on  the 16^th April 2025.

The Panel considered the Minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 16^th April 2025.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the previous meeting be approved.

Members will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have any disclosable pecuniary interests or any other interests, which may prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items.

Councillor John Taylor declared an interest relating to item 8 as the Alternative Director for SUEZ Recycling and Recovery Kirklees LTD.

Most agenda items take place in public. This only changes where there is a need to consider exempt information, as contained at Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. You will be informed at this point which items are to be recommended for exclusion and to be resolved by the Panel.

All items were considered in the public session.

The Panel will receive any petitions and/or deputations from members of the public. A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on some particular issue of concern. A member of the public can also submit a petition at the meeting relating to a matter on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, Members of the Public must submit a deputation in writing, at least three clear working days in advance of the meeting and shall subsequently be notified if the deputation shall be heard. A maximum of four deputations shall be heard at any one meeting.

No deputations or petitions were received.

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To receive any public questions.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11, the period for the asking and answering of public questions shall not exceed 15 minutes.

Any questions must be submitted in writing at least three clear working days in advance of the meeting.

No public questions were received.

To appoint a member of the Panel to the Kirklees Vision Zero Board.

Contact:

Jodie Harris, Principal Governance and Democratic Engagement Officer

It was agreed that the item be deferred due to ongoing updates to the Terms of Reference of the Board.It w

The Panel will consider the report ‘Simpler Recycling’ which will outline the changes in legislation regarding its introduction.

Contact:

Will Acornley - Head of Operational Services

The Panel received a presentation and report on the introduction of Simpler Recycling and the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation (introduced nationally in late 2024). The update was presented by Will Acornley, Head of Operational Services who informed the Panel that:

• Simpler Recycling aimed to standardise recycling and waste collection across England, requiring the separation of waste streams and the introduction of new bins for fibres and food waste.
• EPR legislation required producers to cover the costs of packaging waste, with Kirklees expected to receive £6.6 million in the first year of payments.
• A Deposit Return Scheme was proposed for drinks containers, allowing residents to reclaim deposits on returned items.
• Kirklees Council planned to implement Simpler Recycling by 2028 to align with the expiry of its current 30-year PFI waste contract.
• The Council’s Waste Strategy (2021–2030) had been informed by significant public engagement and included actions such as reuse shops, recycling champions, and contamination reduction initiatives.
• The waste disposal contract, operated by SUEZ, was in its final years, with facility ownership reverting to the Council in 2028. Preparatory actions included variations to the contract, asset registers, and procurement strategy development.
• The Council was reviewing options for implementing Simpler Recycling, including the impact on back-to-back properties, HMOs, and flats.
• Funding challenges were noted, with uncertainty around future EPR payments and disposal costs under new contracts.
• Risks included operational disruption, funding uncertainty, and the need for effective community engagement
• Legal and operational considerations for the procurement of new waste treatment and reprocessing contracts under the Competitive Flexible Procedure (CFP) must also be considered and a new timeline was being worked up to align with this.
• The Huddersfield District Energy Network was also key consideration of the procurement process.
• A communications plan was being developed to support public understanding and participation.
• Engagement with residents and stakeholders would continue, with lessons drawn from other local authorities.

Councillor Tyler Hawkins, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Highways and Waste noted that the proposed changes represented a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform waste management operations within Kirklees. He highlighted that, due to concurrent national legislative reforms, all local authorities were undergoing similar transitions. This alignment created valuable opportunities for collaboration and shared learning—both among councils and with residents. Councillor Hawkins emphasised the importance of investing in the necessary infrastructure to support these changes and underscored the need to engage and involve the public throughout the process.

The Panel noted the presentation and, in the discussion, to follow raised questions regarding financial implications, service continuity, and the long-term sustainability of Simpler Recycling:

• In response to the Panel’s question regarding legal compliance, it was acknowledged that there had been delays in receiving definitive clarification on compliance requirements. The significant scope and scale of the proposed changes were also recognised as contributing factors. The Council confirmed its commitment to working in partnership with DEFRA to formalise an implementation plan for Simpler Recycling. It was further noted that, provided progress towards implementation is demonstrated, no enforcement action will be taken despite the revised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Panel will consider its Work Programme for 2025/26

Contact:

Jodie Harris, Principal Governance and Democratic Engagement Officer

The Panel reviewed its Work Programme for 2025/26 and it was noted that the Panel was interested in visiting third sector organisations as part of its work programme.