The West London Waste Authority met on Tuesday 2 December 2025 to approve the 2026-2027 budget, which included a 1% increase in levies. The Authority also received updates on contracts and operations, and reviewed its health and safety performance.

2026-2027 Budget Approved

The West London Waste Authority has approved its budget for the 2026-2027 financial year, which includes a 1% increase in levies for constituent boroughs. This increase is primarily due to lower budgeted tonnages and projected inflationary pressures on contracts. The budget aims to provide greater stability and predictability for boroughs, with a focus on strengthening relationships and identifying long-term efficiencies across the waste system.

Key elements of the budget include:

• Levy Increase: A 1% growth in levies, amounting to £1.1 million, is projected. This is influenced by lower budgeted waste volumes from boroughs and current trends.
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Funding: The Authority anticipates receiving £11.3 million in EPR funding, with £3 million to be disbursed to boroughs based on Council Tax numbers. A further £6 million is earmarked for investment in the waste collection and processing system, with proposals for its expenditure to be submitted for approval.
• Staffing Structure: The budget introduces a new staffing structure with no overall permanent growth, but includes 4.0 FTE interim support to address audit recommendations and support new delivery approaches.
• Waste Transport and Disposal (WTD): The WTD budget is set at £62.7 million, a 2% increase from the current year, driven by borough tonnage forecasts and contractual inflation. The Authority will continue to work with contractors to minimise waste sent to landfill.
• Reserves: A target level of £36.3 million in reserves is proposed, including £11.3 million to manage risks and £25 million earmarked for joint projects with boroughs.
• Capital Budget: A new capital budget of £3.665 million is proposed, including £2 million for bulking facilities at Victoria Road and £1.3 million for works at Abbey Road transfer station.

The budget was approved with several resolutions, including the approval of the 2026/27 budget for consultation, the disbursement of EPR funds, and the approval of additional spend on transfer bays at Victoria Road.

Contracts and Operations Update

An update on the Authority's waste treatment arrangements was provided, highlighting that services are operating well. Improvements have been noted at Viridor facilities following unplanned outages, and staffing levels at Abbey Road transfer station have returned to requisite levels.

Key points from the update include:

• Abbey Road Transfer Station: The site is now receiving borough waste, and infrastructure improvements are underway, including odour suppression systems and proximity sensors on heavy mobile plant. Options for reintroducing trade waste are being considered.
• Viridor Facilities: Contingency arrangements at Ardley are being managed, with planned crane works completed without impacting WLWA deliveries.
• Food Waste: A permanent solution for food waste disposal at Victoria Road is being worked on, with interim bulking arrangements in place.
• Mattress Processing: A new contract for the processing and recycling of mattresses has been successfully procured with SSSi Ltd, enabling the reprocessing of materials previously considered difficult to recycle.
• Procurement Forward Plan: A forward plan of contracts requiring new procurement or extensions over the next 12 months was presented, covering services such as Dry Mixed Recycling, E-Procurement Systems, and various haulage and collection services.

2025/26 Health and Safety Performance

The Authority reviewed its health and safety performance for the 2025/26 financial year to date. The report indicated significant progress in managing and complying with health and safety requirements, with improvements noted at Abbey Road HRRC and WTS.

Key aspects of the health and safety performance include:

• Reporting Culture: Reported incidents have increased to 175 (April to October 2025/26) from 78 in the previous year, reflecting a more robust reporting culture rather than a rise in actual incidents.
• Site Compliance: Site compliance ratings have improved, particularly at Abbey Road, following targeted interventions and regular audits.
• RIDDOR Incidents: No RIDDOR-reportable incidents have occurred during the reporting period.
• Action Plan: An updated action plan for the remainder of the financial year has been developed, focusing on areas such as fire safety, traffic management, and contractor vetting.
• Financial Resources: Health and safety expenditure remains within budget, with a proposed increase for 2026/27 to further enhance compliance and explore in-house specialism.

The Authority was asked to note the information in the report.

Other Business

The meeting also included the approval of the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy, amendments to Financial Regulations, and the noting of the current financial position and forecast for 2025/26. The appointment of Peter Tilston as interim Managing Director and Ian O'Donnell as Treasurer were also confirmed.