Following a period of constructive dialogue, the councils have successfully addressed the key issues that led to the dispute. Agreement on the terms of a new Inter Authority Agreement has been reached in full – which means both organisations can move forward in partnership with the confidence and certainty required to successfully complete the project.
Both councils remain committed to the original decision, made in February 2023, to progress option one: fix and operate the existing plant and have completed soft market testing throughout 2023 with positive engagement from the waste industry which confirmed there was capability, capacity and appetite in the market to deliver the project.
The councils will now move forward with the procurement exercise to rectify defects at the facility and bring it into use.
A spokesperson for Derbyshire County Council and Derby City Council said:
“We’re pleased to confirm that the dispute has been fully resolved and both councils have reaffirmed their commitment to working in partnership to get the waste treatment centre at Sinfin operational.
“This is in line with the decisions to fix and operate the facility which were taken by Cabinet Members at both councils at their respective meetings in February 2023.
“We look forward with confidence to moving the project forward to provide both councils with the most viable and cost-effective, long-term solution for the management of household waste, to benefit residents in both the city and county.”