SERVICES in Weymouth and Portland could be significantly cut in order to pay bills to the under-fire Dorset Waste Partnership.

Shocked councillors were told that DWP had ‘found’ an additional £1million worth of costs that would have to be paid for by councils.

Weymouth and Portland’s share will be £150,000 and finance chiefs say that services may have to be cut to foot the bill.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s management committee met yesterday to consider a report presenting the DWP’s draft revenue estimates.

A report sent to the DWP Joint Committee identified a possible overspend for 2014/15 between £1.03million and £1.27million.

The estimates were considered by the DWP’s Joint Committee at its meeting in October.

However, Joint Committee members were informally briefed in November that this figure could rise to £2.27million due to additional vehicle hire costs.

Jason Vaughan, director of resources at the borough council, revealed this had now become a ‘harsh reality’.

He said: “They have found about a million pounds’ worth of additional vehicle costs for this year which they weren’t aware of.

“Our share of that is around £150,000.

“What’s happened since this report came to us is they have further gone through the figures and they have found significant additional costs that are ongoing in their nature.

“It’s not a realistic budget. For Weymouth and Portland you will be significantly cutting other services to fund that. That’s the harsh reality.”

The service has received thousands of complaints since launching in October, including mix-ups with bin deliveries, missed collections and problems collecting old bins.

Cllr Mike Byatt, chair of the management committee, said the council was left in a ‘very unhappy position’.

He asked Kate Ryan, director of communities at the borough council, to explain the legalities of the partnership and the revenue estimates.

She said: “This process is laid out in the Inter-Authority Agreement (IAA) that the draft budget is set. It’s then taken to every council for consideration.

“Theoretically it goes back to the Joint Committee for final approval. That’s in an ideal world.”

Ms Ryan revealed, however, that the Joint Committee would meet again on December 16 to discuss a new budget at an increased cost.

If approved, the budget will come back to the management committee in January. If voted against, Ms Ryan said a legal scenario would ensue where the costs of the partnership carry on without an agreed budget.

She said: “Until we have got an agreed budget, we are liable for the costs of the partnership, according to the cost-sharing agreement.”

Councillors agreed to disapprove the draft revenue estimates, and frame a letter voicing the council’s dissatisfaction.

Cllr Ray Nowak said: “They are just not being responsible about their budgeting process. We need to have an exit strategy.

“I’m suggesting that it is something that needs to be looked at.”

Cllr Colin Huckle, briefholder for finance and assets, said: “We have lost faith in the management and financial controls of the DWP.

“We seek full assurances from Dorset County Council that financial controls are now in place and that the government arrangements for the DWP are urgently reviewed.

“Until such assurances are received, councillors are unable to approve the draft estimates.”

A DWP spokesman revealed the additional £1million was for vehicles that were hired rather than purchased.

He said: “The DWP is jointly owned by its partner councils, who have an equal say in how services are provided and holding management to account.

“We are working closely with all our partners including Weymouth and Portland to respond to the challenges we face and deliver the best possible services for the best possible price.

“Early results from Weymouth and Portland show that recycling has risen and landfill waste reduced. Once it has fully bedded in we expect to see similar improvements as the rest of Dorset.”

• More waste complaints

RESIDENTS are still reporting problems with their bin service – adding to the thousands of complaints already received.

One person from Dorchester, who wished to remain anonymous, said the bins weren’t big enough.

Their bin was tagged informing them that bins with the lid ‘not completely closed flat’ wouldn’t be collected.

The person said: “Maybe if they provided large enough bins in the first place this wouldn’t be a problem. Our rubbish could potentially go uncollected for a month.

“How do they think that is going to make the problem go away for a young family with a child in nappies?

“The recycling bin is clearly too large for its purpose. The rubbish bin is clearly too small. We were offered blue bags in addition to our black bin over a week ago. So far, nothing.”