The West London Waste Authority is scheduled to meet on Tuesday 17 March 2026 to discuss its Business Plan for 2026/27, review its financial position, and receive an update on its People and Culture initiatives. The meeting will also cover the Authority's financial report for January 2026.

Business Plan 2026/27

A significant item on the agenda is the proposed Business Plan for 2026/27. This plan outlines the West London Waste Authority's (WLWA) ambition to create a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable West London by transforming waste into resources, investing in modern facilities, and encouraging waste reduction and recycling. The plan details a strategy focused on three key areas: Delivery, aiming for service improvements and project outcomes; People, focusing on enhancing organisational culture and investing in staff; and Partnership, fostering an integrated approach with the six boroughs to align long-term strategy and manage shared risks. The Authority is seeking approval for the Business Plan and its long-term targets, as well as the specific 12-month plan for the upcoming financial year. The plan highlights priorities such as building a circular economy, taking a joined-up approach across the waste system, preparing for legislative changes like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), and targeting key materials like food waste and textiles.

Finance Report - January 2026

The meeting will review the Authority's financial position as of January 2026. The report indicates a projected surplus of £1.1 million for the year-end, despite some expenditure overruns, particularly in employee costs due to interim support during a change management process. The report details variances in waste transport and disposal costs, noting savings due to lower than budgeted tonnages. It also highlights that the Abbey Road site has reopened to trade waste customers, with new booking systems and increased prices expected to recoup previous deficits. The Authority is seeking approval to delegate authority to the Interim Managing Director to allocate £2.4 million from an £8.0 million earmarked fund for Household Reuse and Recycling Centre (HRRC) investments. This reserve aims to ensure consistent operational standards across all six boroughs' HRRC facilities. The report also provides an update on the 2024/25 audit, noting that the completion of the statement of accounts has been delayed due to an unresolved query regarding Public-Private Partnership (PPP) contract accounting. A Treasury Management update will also be presented.

People and Culture Update

An update on the People and Culture initiatives will be provided, focusing on the recruitment of a permanent Managing Director and the results of the Annual Employee Engagement Survey. The report indicates that the recruitment process for the Managing Director has been paused until after the May 2026 local elections, with interim arrangements remaining in place. The survey results show positive momentum, with improvements in employee sentiment regarding the workplace, meaningful work, and health and wellbeing support. The Authority is focusing on five key areas for development: investing in growth and opportunities, embedding consistency in values and behaviours, creating clarity, providing certainty, and addressing workload resilience. The report also notes that the Sickness Absence Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is currently rated amber due to long-term absences, although the metric has stabilised and is being closely monitored.

Other Items

The meeting will also include the confirmation of the minutes from the previous meeting held on 20 January 2026.