Review into future of Hucknall and Nottinghamshire’s recycling centres still going after more than a year

Nottinghamshire County Council is conducting the assessment on the waste centres following concerns some sites may be experiencing ‘operational difficulties’ because they are approaching full capacity.

The review was first commissioned in January 2022 but the Conservative-run authority’s place select committee has heard the outcome of it will not be fed back until at least July.

Papers published for the same committee in January 2023 said “detailed operational and strategic recommendations” had been drawn up by a consultant.

These, the papers said, were due to be reported back in a cabinet briefing two months ago.

But a committee meeting on March 15 heard the review is “complex” with its results due to be published “as soon as possible”.

Following a debate between Independent Alliance members and ruling Tories, councillors decided an update must be provided at the next meeting in July.

This would be 18 months after the review was approved by the now-disbanded transport and environment committee and six months later than the initially-promised January 2023 date.

Speaking in the meeting, Coun Tom Hollis (Ash Ind), the committee’s vice-chair, moved calls for the review to be published by the end of March.

However, his suggestions were voted down by the Conservatives with Labour abstaining from the vote.

Coun Hollis said: “We want a timescale to hold the administration to account on the review.

“In January, we were promised the recommendations and we still don’t have them.

“We want to actually set a date for when we can expect an outcome for this review, which is already eight weeks overdue.”

But Coun Neil Clarke (Con), cabinet member for transport and environment, urged for the process not to be rushed.

He said: “All I can say at the moment is that it will be published as soon as possible because there’s a lot involved.

“We want to make sure we get it right when we come out with the recommendations.”

“It’s better that it’s right, not rushed, and an arbitrary deadline is going to be impossible.”