URL: https://cms.wiltshire.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=2312

Decision Maker: Corporate Director - Place

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose:

Content: At its meeting on 9 December 2025 Cabinet considered a proposal to implement an online booking system for use with Household Recycling Centres as part of demand management, helping to reduce queuing, improve customer service, reduce commercial waste abuse, and provide other benefits. The meeting on 9 December 2025 resolved to implement a trial use of an online booking system at sites in Stanton St Quintin, Salisbury, Melksham, and Devizes and delegated this to the Director, Environment. Purton and Lower Compton HRCs were not included as part of the trial because at that meeting it had been resolved to not extend the contract with Hills Waste Solutions Ltd for continued operation of those sites beyond August 2026, so they would not have been available as part of any trial. Subsequently, and following receipt of an improved offer from Hills Waste Solutions Ltd, Cabinet amended its proposed budget at a meeting on 3 February 2026 to remove savings from not extending the contracts to operate Lower Compton and Purton HRC, in anticipation of extending the contracts for three-year periods. That budget was approved by Full Council on 24 February 2026, and a formal decision to extend the contracts was confirmed in delegated decision ECW-01-26 on 11 March 2026. The decision to continue operations for Purton and Lower Compton HRCs is predicated upon development of a new HRC site to serve the north of Wiltshire from around mid-2029 onwards. This would likely include a substantial proportion of current usage from the Purton site and some amount of usage from the Lower Compton site. Had an extension been agreed at the December meeting, the service would have requested that the trial would also have been extended to Purton and Lower Compton HRCs in order to ensure that necessary information could be gathered at the same time. The intention to trial use at Purton and Lower Compton HRCs was also announced at a well-attended public meeting of the Calne Area Board on 5 February 2026. It is considered that given the decisions made by Cabinet and Full Council to extend the contracts for Purton and Lower Compton HRCs included additional cost of extending the trial to those sites, that it falls within the Director’s general delegated authority under the scheme of sub-delegation to agree further sites for inclusion of the trial of an online booking system. This would comprise a lawful action consistent with the Director’s area of responsibility and would deliver upon an agreed policy for operation and management of the HRCs within the approved budget. I confirm that in making this decision I have considered the following in line with Wiltshire Council’s Constitution: Key decision requirements: NA Views of relevant cabinet member(s), committee chairman, area board(s): The Cabinet Member and Leader have agreed inclusion of the areas as part of the trial. The intention for both areas to be included as part of the trial of the online booking system was set out by relevant Cabinet Members at a meeting of Calne Area Board on 5 February 2026 once it had been agreed in principle to extend the contracts for Purton and Lower Compton HRC. A meeting of Royal Wootton Bassett and Cricklade Area Board took place prior to agreement to extend use of the current sites and the potential for use of a trial system, however, as it is presently only a trial that is proposed it is considered appropriate to proceed. Consultation with cabinet member(s), the Leader and Scrutiny (for Executive decisions taken under Emergency Powers): NA Consultation in accordance with the council’s consultation guidance and the views emanating from that process: Not applicable – Cabinet had agreed the principle of trialling an online booking system at its meeting on 9 December, this decision is including additional trial sites given follow up Cabinet and Full Council decisions to retain those sites. Implication of any council policy, initiative, strategy or procedure: The inclusion of the sites within the trial will assist with the agreed approach of developing a new site for the north of the county. Staffing, financial and legal implications: The additional cost of including two further areas within the booking system trial were included in the extension costs presented in the MTFS agreed at Full council on 24th February 2026 The assessment of any associated risks in accordance with the Council’s risk management strategy: Not applicable Involvement of appropriate statutory officers and/or corporate directors and directors: The Monitoring Officer and Corporate Director, Place, have been consulted on this decision. Regional or national guidance from other bodies where relevant: Not applicable The council’s constitution, including the Procurement and Contract Rules (Part 10) and the Financial Regulations and Procedure Rules (Part 9), all relevant guidance, legislation, codes of practice, and protocols: Not applicable

Date of Decision: March 23, 2026