Waste bodies denied precept

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The government has rejected calls for joint waste authorities (JWAs) to get council tax levying powers.

The authorities could be formed by groups of councils to handle services including waste collection, disposal and street cleaning, but without precept powers they would depend on their members for finance.

Giving its feedback to responses to a consultation on the new authorities, the Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs admitted the largest reason given by respondents for opposing JWA's creation was lack of any power to impose a tax precept.

But DEFRA stated: "Such powers will not be available to JWAs." It said waste infrastructure capital grants could be allocated to JWAs.