Times are hard, and every penny counts. Councils are strapped for cash and are obliged to save every penny possible. Waste collection services are no exception to this, though the costs of incorrect segregation and disposal together with increased landfill charges and other penalties may necessitate some modest expenditure  in order to drive down expenditure further along the pipe.

Now cash-strapped Hart District Council is considering a long-term agreement to share its street cleaning service with a neighbouring authority. Hart hopes to save around £100,000 a year if the seven-year deal with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council goes ahead. This includes a modest projected saving of £2,181 per year for Hart by transferring its clinical waste service to Basingstoke; the call handling detail for the proposal will be discussed by the council next month.

And that is the key issue. If money can be saved then all well and good. But if the management of those merged or streamlined services is inadequate to properly support that service then the system is bound to fail, residents will be disadvantaged and probably disgruntled, and money wasted putting that right at some later stage.

While this happens, it should not be overlooked that some District Council collection services for clinical wastes from domestic premises operate at a level below that which might be considered acceptable. The second national audit has been completed and the results are being prepared for publication.

A copy of the original publication and audit findings is accessible here.