News / Bristol Waste

Bristol Waste’s business plan to be discussed in secret

By Martin Booth  Friday Feb 9, 2024

Publicly-owned Bristol Waste’s business plan for the next three years is being discussed by councillors on Monday but members of the public and the press are being excluded for some of the meeting.

The reason given is “commercial sensitivity” which if disclosed at the meeting of the overview and scrutiny management board (OSMB) at City Hall “would put the company at a commercial disadvantage”.

Bristol Waste is a company that is wholly owned by Bristol City Council whose website says they “have no interest in making a profit for non-Bristol shareholders, freeing us up to be able to focus on meeting our city’s ambitious environmental, social and economic objectives”.

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Individuals associated with the company are currently under police investigation for alleged fraud, with allegations dating back to 2020. Five people have now been interviewed by police.

The inquiry is into allegations that staff took payments to misreport the amount of waste being brought into Bristol Waste’s Avonmouth depot on Kings Weston Lane.

It comes as a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has detailed the expenses claims of Bristol Waste directors and former managing directors.

Investigative journalist Joanna Booth has described “lavish dining on the public dime” after pursuing various FOI requests for the expenses.

On November 16 2021, a payment of £640.87 was listed as ‘directors accommodation & meal for meeting’ which included dinner at the River Grille restaurant and drinks at the River Lounge bar of the Bristol Hotel.

In May 2022, a directors’ lunch at Miller & Carter at the Marriott Royal Hotel cost £326.21, with the taxpayer footing the bill for a £34.50 filet mignon steak and and two double 12-year-old Balvenie whiskies costing £16.10 each.

In May 2022, a Bristol Waste directors’ lunch at Miller & Carter at the Marriott Royal cost £326.21 – photo: Visit Bristol

A Bristol Waste spokesperson told Bristol24/7: “We are pleased to present our latest three-year business plan. As Bristol Waste continues through an exciting transformation period, we will continue to build on successes of the last year and deliver financial stability.

“The business plan highlights how we will continue to deliver the best value for money amongst core English cities and similar local authorities, delivering not only our core service requirements as agree with Bristol City Council, but also real economic, environmental and social benefits to Bristol.

“One company focused on improving the quality of life for Bristol’s residents, workers and visitors.”

The spokesperson added: “In regards to next week’s OSMB, there are significant sections of the business plan that are subject to commercial sensitivity that, if published, would put the company at a commercial disadvantage.

“This part of the meeting of OSMB will be held in exempt session, this is usual practice and will allow members to consider and scrutinise this commercially sensitive information.

“The business plan will proceed to Cabinet, as part of the overall council budget, after having been considered by members of OSMB.”

Main photo: Mia Vines Booth

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