Council moves key projects forward

Harborough District Council’s Executive committee backed recommendations on 7th November 2011 to begin the first phase of a property review.

The report – which is looking at how the council can get better value from its assets – acknowledges the current offices in Adam & Eve Street are too big for the council’s needs and are creating an unnecessary financial strain on resources.

The report recommends a review of all key town centre assets, including the Market Hall. Whilst there has been significant public speculation about the future of the Market Hall, the report does not recommend closure.

The proposals set out will enable all the council’s town centre sites to be reviewed and for the council to make informed decisions.

Councillors also agreed at the meeting on recommendations to develop a business case to look at a possible move to a ‘co-mingled’ waste collection service.

A ‘co-mingled’ service involves the collection of materials in a single bin which are later sorted at the recycling facility. This is opposed to the existing system of sorting recyclable items into different boxes or bins at the kerbside. This approach would see the introduction of plastics recycling.

The business case will now be drawn up to look at the viability of any proposed changes.

The proposals will look at boosting Harborough district’s already impressive recycling rate, which is currently the best in Leicestershire and one of the best in the country – as well as giving residents greater choice of what they can recycle, helping the environment, and improving cost-efficiency.  

Full details of the Executive report can be viewed on the council’s website.