'Wrong decision' claim as council chief signs off incinerator scheme

A LOCAL authority continuing to progress with a household waste incinerator scheme is the "wrong decision", a councillor has claimed.

- By STUART ARNOLD

In an email sent to members and officers, Redcar and Cleveland Council's chief executive Brian Archer confirmed that "having discussed this decision with you all and considered the available information" he had taken the decision to approve its participation in the project and take all the necessary steps to proceed to financial close.

In May a motion adopted successfully by the council after being put to the vote recommended the cabinet make the final decision, potentially removing a delegation to senior officers made a number of years ago in the early stages of the Tees Valley Energy Recovery Facility scheme.

But after meeting at the end of last month, the cabinet agreed to leave the delegation to officers, adding the caveat that the chief executive spoke to all members "to get their views and thoughts" before making the final signature.

Independent councillor Dr Tristan Learoyd, who has brought a number of motions forward in an attempt to derail the planned facility, which will be sited near Grangetown at the Teesworks complex, said in a reply to Mr Archer's communication that it was the "wrong decision".