A senior government minister checked out Richmondshire as part of a fact finding mission to the North East.
Lord Henley, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, spent three hours in Richmond to see how rural councils deal with issues such as waste collection and recycling. He also spent time with Hambleton and Richmondshire District Councils Chief Executive, Peter Simpson, to discuss the shared service programme.
“It is a huge compliment to Richmondshire and Hambleton District Councils that he chose to come to see us - and how we deal with waste and recycling issues,” said Leader of the Council, Councillor Fleur Butler.
“We explained to him that in rural areas we have a unique set of issues – for example a large capacity refuse wagon cannot be used in country lanes, unlike in urban communities. And once collected, there is not a ready market for recyclate in North Yorkshire so our recycling costs are higher as we transport it to recycling plants.
“We believe it’s vital that we look to local solutions not nationally imposed ones – we need to deliver solutions that suit our environment.
“Lord Henley was hugely impressed with how the two councils had rationalised their delivery patterns and made efficiencies across both authorities while still delivering a service that local people want.
We are well respected councils that are showing innovative new ways of working through our acclaimed shared services programme – one which is now being held up as the way forward by other councils across the country.”
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