Secret figures in Tories’ incinerator contract reveal ‘extraordinary anti-recycling policy’, claim Stroud Greens

AN unredacted version of the Conservative county council’s Javelin Park incinerator contract has revealed an “extraordinary anti-recycling policy”, Green party councillors in Stroud have claimed.

Analysts for the party say the contract, which had been the subject of a costly and lengthy High Court legal battle, undermines the economic case for recycling in Gloucestershire through its pricing strategy.

The complex document, which previously had key figures blacked out, was momentarily released online after an IT error last week, undermining a £200,000 taxpayer funded legal bill from the county council to keep it a secret.

Since then, Green party analysts have been studying the un-redacted version of the contract between Gloucestershire County Council and Urbaser Balfour Beatty for their huge half-a-billion-pound ‘energy from waste’ facility near Haresfield.

They say the new financial and quantity figures, seen by the SNJ, show an “appalling” deal for taxpayers and the environment, and how the waste-burner could damage the recycling efforts of district councils across the county.

The base amount of waste – which the council must contractually supply to the incinerator to make it profitable – will be charged at a high price which is well above the going rate offered by competitors.

However, additional waste that could be avoided if efforts are put into recycling will be charged at a knock-down rate, which the Greens argue will make it more attractive for companies not to recycle.

“This is appalling,” said Cllr Martin Whiteside, leader of the Green Party on Stroud District Council (SDC).

“Not only is the incinerator debacle costing taxpayers unnecessary millions, but it will also undermine our efforts to recycle more, and produce less waste.

“In Stroud, thanks to our district council, which is led by a cooperative alliance that includes the Greens, we have seen a massive success with our new collection scheme.

“Once we were able to end the long-term contracts signed by the last Tory administration, Stroud has increased recycling from 30 per cent to 60 per cent.

“This secret incinerator contract signed by the Tory County Council will most likely damage the great work that is being done – you couldn’t make it up.”

Sarah Lunnon, Green county councillor for Stroud Central, said: "It would appear that the pricing structure of GCC's contract with UBB will undermine the future expansion of recycling.

“This contract appears to have been drawn-up to protect the commercial interests of the companies and financiers involved and does not provide Gloucestershire residents with the service they deserve".

Rachel Smith, who is standing as the Green’s candidate in Minchinhampton in the coming county council elections said: “The un-redacted contract also includes extraordinary provisions for guaranteeing the profits of multi-national UBB - whatever happens – and leaves the poor Gloucestershire taxpayer to pick up the tab”.

Transparency campaigner Tim Davies, of the UK Civil Society Network on Open Government, said “This state of affairs shows exactly why contracts should be open, so that they can be properly scrutinised.

“Transparency is even more important for massive Public Private Partnership contracts like the one for Javelin Park.

“The Council taxpayers have a right to know what their money is being spent on and what long term contracts are being signed in their name. Transparency means better scrutiny, better contracting and better government."

However councillor Ray Theodoulou, Tory cabinet member for finance and change at Gloucestershire County Council, rejected every single one of the Green’s claims.

“This is not true,” he said. “The new facility supports the council’s aim of 70 per cent recycle in Gloucestershire and this is clear in the contract.

“The deal saves taxpayers £150million, makes enough clean electricity to power 25,000 homes and reduces carbon emissions by 40,000 tonnes.

“UBB has made good progress on construction and the facility should be operational in 2019.”

It is estimated the bills to pay lawyers to defend the county council’s case had run up to almost £200,000. This bill has been paid for by the tax payer in Gloucestershire.

As the High Court ruling has not been made yet, for legal reasons the SNJ is not able to reveal the full details of the contract.

Gerald Hartley, chair of the campaign group GlosVAIN which has been fighting the incinerator for years, said he will be raising questions about the pricing at the next county council meeting.

Urbaser Balfour Beatty declined to comment.