Swindon Waste Collection Overhaul Found Poorly Planned by Report

An inquiry into modifications to collection services at Swindon Borough Council has determined that the implementation was inadequately planned, resulting in several weeks of missed collections. The updated waste collection system incorporated weekly food waste pickups, revised schedules, and a new fleet of vehicles, which encountered operational challenges stemming from insufficient resources. The document, authored by Greenlight Commercial & Consulting, pinpointed multiple significant problems, such as inadequate staffing levels, a deficit of specialized knowledge, and ineffective project management. Councillor Chris Watts, who commissioned the report, stated its purpose was to “identify the problems with the council’s project management” to prevent similar errors in the future. The investigation indicated that “routine approaches” to distributing resources resulted in the choice to utilize current personnel, placing considerable pressure on the service. Furthermore, the report emphasized that the service’s effectiveness was hampered by “poor data” and outdated records, potentially leading to up to 1,000 households being overlooked. The report also critiqued the insufficient detailed financial planning for the initiative, asserting, “there is a discernible lack of figures in the report” and underscoring the absence of a financial model to factor in inflation and service expenses. Councillor Chris Watts, who assumed responsibility for the waste portfolio in May 2023, clarified that the report’s objective was “not really to find out what went wrong, but to identify the problems with the council’s project management”. He underscored that significant undertakings, such as the £10m overhaul, ought to proceed only with appropriate resources and expertise to prevent unsatisfactory results. He further stated: “It’s clear that we should not go into major £10m reorganisations without making sure we have adequate resources and the right skills.” He added, “If we don’t have the right resources, it is better not to proceed with a project than deliver it badly.” The findings of the report are scheduled for discussion at the Building a Greener Swindon policy committee meeting on Thursday.