Harrogate Borough Council is carrying out a public consultation, to ask residents how the council's waste and recycling services should be developed in 2006/7 and beyond.

 

The council has written a draft action plan for the future of waste services, and it is now asking the public if the priorities are right, and if the plan can be improved. Information and questionnaires have been put in public libraries across the district, and there is an online version on the council's website, with access from the home page on www.harrogate.gov.uk.

 

The action plan covers a wide range of activities, like kerbside recycling, household waste collection, street cleaning, litter and dog waste bins and mini recycling sites.

 

In July, the Audit Commission rated the council's waste services as 'good, with promising prospects for improvement'.  The council's recent satisfaction survey also showed that residents are increasingly happy with street cleanliness and recycling facilities.

 

Councillor Les Ellington, Cabinet Member for Environmental Health said:  "The council's waste services are a high-profile part of our work, and it is important that we continue to provide the high quality service which residents demand.  Our positive ratings in the recent satisfaction survey and Audit Commission report show that we are currently doing a good job.  However, there is new legislation coming in, and increasing targets for recycling, so we need to plan carefully how the council's waste services will be delivered in the coming years, to make our 'promising prospects for improvement' become a reality.  The views of local people on this issue are valuable, and I encourage as many people as possible to take part in this consultation by completing the questionnaire either online or at their local library".

 

The deadline for completed questionnaires is 30 November.  The council will use the responses it receives to see if improvements can be made to the proposed Action Plan, which will then be used to direct the development of waste services for the next 5 years.

 

NOTE TO EDITORS:  Harrogate Borough Council is responsible for collecting waste and is working in partnership with North Yorkshire County Council who are the responsible authority for waste disposal and for the household waste recycling centres.

 

Further information:   Councillor Les Ellington is available for comment on 01423 712461 from Monday 14 November.  Further technical information is available from Jane Money, Environmental Strategy Manager for more information 01423 556801.