‘It hasn’t been a good relationship’ was the view of a Conservative councillor as it was announced waste and recycling collection services in Barrow were set to become a council-run operation once again.
Barrow Council and FCC Environment have agreed to an early termination of FCC’s contract.
A spokesman for Barrow Borough Council stressed that waste collection services would transition seamlessly to a council contract in October.
Councillor Ben Shirley said the Conservative group on the council welcomed the move.
“It hasn’t been a good relationship, there are mistakes that have perhaps been made,” he said.
“And, as with any relationship that’s not working, it’s time to finish, time to end it and look at pastures new.”
The move comes ahead of the creation of a unitary Westmorland and Furness authority in April of next year.
The new council will take on the services currently performed by Barrow Borough Council, South Lakeland District Council, Eden District Council and Cumbria County Council in the south and east of the county.
Cllr Shirley said the return to a council-led waste collection operation would mean the local authority had more control and flexibility over the service, including over pay and working conditions.
He said that should help to prevent bin strikes of the kind that hit Barrow earlier this year.
“It’s important that the council now makes it easier for people to recycle,” he said. “All that people want is their waste collected weekly, on time, on the day that it’s supposed to be collected.
“They want their recycling taken away in a fuss-free manner. We want it to be clear what they can and can’t recycle.”
Cllr Shirley suggested investment in machinery that allowed a broader range of items to be recycled might be needed.
He also said it was ‘incumbent on the council’ to better communicate information over what could and could not be recycled.
Ann Thomson, leader of Barrow Borough Council, said: “We have maintained a continuous dialogue with our contractor, FCC, about the forthcoming changes to local government in Cumbria.
“We have mutually agreed to end the contract from October, when waste, recycling and street cleansing will become council services once more.
“We are all committed to making the transition period as smooth and as straightforward as possible for all residents.”
An FCC Environment spokesman said: “FCC Environment has been providing Barrow Borough Council with refuse, recycling and street cleansing services since April 2017 and, in this time, the business has worked hard to deliver for the residents of Barrow.
“We are working on a planned exit strategy amicably with our council partners and we will assist them in every way we can to ensure a smooth transition.”
