The West London Waste Authority is scheduled to meet on Friday 9 October 2026 to discuss its Business Plan for 2026/27, review updates on partnerships, contracts, operations, and finance, and consider future meeting dates. The meeting will also cover a People and Culture update.

Business Plan 2026/27

A key item for discussion is the West London Waste Authority's (WLWA) Business Plan for 2026/27. This plan outlines the Authority's priorities and the practical steps it will take with its partner boroughs to achieve its long-term ambitions of halving residual waste by 2035 and reaching zero avoidable waste by 2042. The report details progress made in the first two quarters of the year, focusing on delivery, people, and partnership. It highlights efforts to embed continuous improvement, deliver live projects such as Circular Economy Hubs, and build necessary transfer and processing infrastructure. The plan also details progress in building a positive safety culture, investing in staff skills, and strengthening relationships with borough partners. The report notes that the government has announced a delay to the inclusion of energy from waste in the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), and the mandatory kerbside collection of flexible plastics has been postponed until April 2030.

Business Partnership and Development and Transformation Update

The meeting will receive an update on the progress of the Strategic Partnership Board, which aims to foster a more dynamic and collaborative working approach. The Board, comprising senior strategic and finance leads from the six West London boroughs, focuses on enhancing the value of investment decisions relating to earmarked reserves. Key areas of focus include improving the capture and quality of recycling materials from properties with communal collection services and enhancing public-facing Household Reuse and Recycling Centres (HRRCs) to create a consistent network. The report highlights findings from the Waste Composition Analysis for Summer 2025 and Spring 2026, which indicate that communal properties generate significantly more residual waste per household and that food waste remains the largest component of residual waste across all property types. Recommendations include agreeing funding for trials to increase the capture and quality of recyclables from communal properties, delegating authority for infrastructure improvements, and agreeing funding for the expansion of food waste collection services.

Contracts and Operations Update

An update is scheduled on the performance of the Authority's waste contracts and recent developments at the Abbey Road Household Reuse and Recycling Centre (HRRC). The report indicates that overall contracts are performing well, with teams at waste transfer stations managing high volumes of material effectively. Preparations are underway for a planned outage at the Lakeside energy from waste facility in late October 2026. The report also addresses the current shortage of fridge treatment capacity, which is a national issue, and outlines WLWA's coordinated approach with borough partners to manage this. Developments at Abbey Road HRRC include efforts to increase trade customer numbers to address a projected income shortfall and the appointment of a Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (SHEQ) Manager to further improve health and safety culture. The report also details a new contract for the processing of Rubble, Hardcore and Soil awarded to Quattro (UK) Ltd and outlines the Procurement Pipeline for the next 12 months.

Finance Update

The Authority's financial position for the first quarter of 2026/27 will be reviewed, showing a healthy position with a projected year-end surplus. The report details expenditure and income, noting lower than budgeted waste transport and disposal costs due to reduced residual tonnages within the Fixed Cost Levy (FCL). Conversely, Pay as You Throw (PAYT) borough and trade residual waste is slightly above budget. The report also addresses the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy, proposing a revised approach following an independent review that identified historic overprovision. A treasury management update will cover the 2025/26 year-end position and the first quarter of 2026/27, confirming that the Authority remains within approved borrowing limits. An update on the 2025/26 financial audit is also included, with a proposal to delegate authority to the Chair to approve the financial statements once the audit is finalised by KPMG.

People and Culture Update

This report provides a summary of progress on the Authority's People and Culture agenda, including the conclusion of the recruitment process for a permanent Managing Director. It highlights the co-development of new organisational values – Safety First, Accountability, and Continuous Improvement – which will guide the workplace culture and are being embedded into the Workforce Action Plan. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to people and culture are noted as showing a positive position, with improvements in employee engagement and training. The report proposes a move to an annual reporting cycle for People and Culture updates to align with the end of the municipal year.

Dates of Future Meetings

Members are requested to consider and agree the proposed dates for future meetings of the Authority and the Audit Committee for the 2026/2027 municipal year.