Derby City Council leader Nadine Peatfield has been quizzed over a “promise” to keep a hugely controversial waste incinerator shut. Ahead of the 2023 local elections, Derby Labour group’s manifesto announced a pledge to “work within legal and financial boundaries to keep the Sinfin Incinerator closed”.
But Councillor Peatfield has now said in a public statement that the risk of “legal or financial consequences” mean the Labour-led council has been “bound” by a decision to fix and operate the facility instead.
Last week it was announced Derby City Council and Derbyshire County Council had reaffirmed their ambitions of bringing the Sinfin Waste Plant into operation, saying the project had taken a “major step forward”.
Join us on WhatsApp to get the latest news straight to your phone
The two authorities now say they are committed to a multi-million-pound plan to get the plant operational – despite it being said previously that it would cost in the region of at least £70 million and might not be possible.
Last year the now-Derby South MP Baggy Shanker was removed as Derby City Council leader over a dispute about the waste incinerator. It came over fears a £93.9 million invoice from Derbyshire County Council could bankrupt the city council.
Councillor Shanker claimed the invoice was invalid. But others claimed Cllr Shanker had treated the council with neglect by not informing them of the invoice until months after he was aware of it.
In August last year it was reported the £93 million invoice had been resolved “following a period of constructive dialogue”. The councils said they would move forward with a procurement exercise.
Bids from the waste industry are being invited for a contract to fix and operate the facility. It is anticipated the waste treatment centre will start to accept waste from across the city and county in November 2028.
Ahead of a full council meeting on Wednesday, January 15, the leader was asked to “give an update on their promise to residents to shut the Sinfin Waste Incinerator”.
Councillor Peatfield responded: “Labour’s 2023 manifesto stated that we would work within legal and financial boundaries to keep the Sinfin Incinerator closed.
“Since coming into administration it became clear that we were bound by the previous administration’s legal decision in February 2023 to fix and operate the waste treatment centre. This decision was binding and could not be reversed without legal or financial consequences.
Read more – The old Revolution in Derby has a new owner and there will be a lot of Guinness
“The current procurement process is the next step in implementing that decision and will demonstrate to the councils whether there is an operator with the potential to fix and operate whilst providing value for money before a final decision is made by the two councils.”
Last week, Mr Shanker, as Derby South MP, raised the issue of the Sinfin incinerator in Parliament. He posted on his Facebook page: “For 16 years I’ve fought against the Sinfin Incinerator, shoulder to shoulder to residents. I said I’d take our fight to Parliament. That’s exactly what I’m doing. I asked the Leader of the House of Commons for a debate on incinerators and will keep working on this crucial issue for our community.”
Councillor Simon Spencer, Derbyshire County Council’s cabinet member for corporate services and budget, said: “Having the waste treatment centre process non-recyclable household waste is more sustainable than transporting material around the country and reduces the risk of the councils being exposed to uncontrollable market prices in the future.
“We look forward with confidence to progressing the project to provide both councils with the most viable and cost-effective, long-term solution for the management of household waste to benefit residents in both the city and county.”
We send out the biggest stories in an email every day. Sign up for the main Derbyshire Live newsletter here.