DDDC’s rubbish contract with Serco - Open Letter from Councillors

Lib Dems reject Serco bailout and call for enquiry

We, the Liberal Democrat District Councillors representing Matlock & Tansley and Ashbourne reject giving Serco a bailout. As a group we voted against giving Serco any additional public funding at the extraordinary meeting on the 27th July.

Serco have agreed to a waste management contract with the District Council and on behalf of our residents we could not reward Serco's failure to meet the agreed performance level. We recognise that there is a shortage of HGV drivers across the UK - however this does not fully explain the poor performance by Serco and its inability to solve predictable problems. Serco are a big profitable multi-national who should not be seeking extra funding from residents and tax payers.

We call on Serco to deliver on their contractual commitments and ensure all waste streams are collected in line with the contract and in line with the council's environmental and climate commitments. The District Council is Conservative controlled and they have forced through a hand out to Serco. As your representatives we will continue to challenge Serco's poor performance and ensure tax payers and residents receive value for money.

We have requested an independent investigation into Serco's performance failure.

Cllrs Robert Archer, Martin Burfoot, Sue Burfoot, Paul Cruise, Steve Flitter, David Hughes and Steve Wain