Tuesday, October 22, 2013

To Russell Goodway re Prosiect Gwyrdd contract with Viridor

Prosiect Gwyrdd contract with Viridor

Dear Cllr Goodway,
We believe that you as chair of PG take ultimate responsibility for the key financial issues being properly checked prior to signing the huge contract with Viridor.
The answers on two basic financial issues appear to be outstanding  
1. State Aid – the risk of the European Commission ruling the 25% WG subsidy to be illegal has not been accessed by Accounting officers
2. No updated Value-for-Money assessment has been made, neither by the Project or by the WG review.
You should be aware that the National Audit Office has just announced it is investigating three 25-yr incinerator contracts in England www.nao.org.uk/press-releases/defras-oversight-pfi-waste-projects/;
also that Defra withdrew WIC (waste infrastructure credits) last week for the Norfolk CC’s incinerator, putting Norfolk CC in trouble over their recent 25-yr contract  www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/councils/defra-withdraws-ps169m-norfolk-efw-funding
You may have seen that EdF yesterday specified the State Aid issue as needing a decision before they sign the Hinkley Point nuclear deal.
We question that the Project officers are capable of giving appropriate advice on these issues and suggest appropriate independent experts should be consulted, eg. the WAO who are already considering the PG contract.
From Cardiff Against the Incinerator CATI 


Letter to Russell Goodway but no reply
Prosiect Gwyrdd contract with Viridor

Dear Cllr Goodway,
We believe that you as chair of PG take ultimate responsibility for the key financial issues being properly checked prior to signing the huge contract with Viridor.
The answers on two basic financial issues appear to be outstanding  
1. State Aid – the risk of the European Commission ruling the 25% WG subsidy to be illegal has not been accessed by Accounting officers
2. No updated Value-for-Money assessment has been made, neither by the Project or by the WG review.
You should be aware that the National Audit Office has just announced it is investigating three 25-yr incinerator contracts in England www.nao.org.uk/press-releases/defras-oversight-pfi-waste-projects/;
also that Defra withdrew WIC (waste infrastructure credits) last week for the Norfolk CC’s incinerator, putting Norfolk CC in trouble over their recent 25-yr contract  www.letsrecycle.com/news/latest-news/councils/defra-withdraws-ps169m-norfolk-efw-funding
You may have seen that EdF yesterday specified the State Aid issue as needing a decision before they sign the Hinkley Point nuclear deal.
We question that the Project officers are capable of giving appropriate advice on these issues and suggest appropriate independent experts should be consulted, eg. the WAO who are already considering the PG contract.
From Cardiff Against the Incinerator CATI 

Friday, October 11, 2013

Cardiff Against the Incinerator Statement Oct 2013


Statement from CATI - Cardiff Against the Incinerator 

 
Judge Curran has knocked a big hole in Cardiff Council's plan to sign a contract with Viridor;  
in finding the company acted unlawfully in starting building works last July, 
action that Cardiff Council condoned by refusing to stop it. 
We look forward to the full emergency hearing, but in the meantime are pressing the Welsh government to withhold their £105 million grant on two grounds:
... that Viridor is not a fit-and-proper person to hold a public waste contract and
... that their £105 million is illegal 'state aid' until ntieid to and approve by Brussels"

We welcome the parallel action against the Welsh government by FOE

Thursday, October 10, 2013

viridor on trial 2-day emergency hearing at Cardiff High Court in December.

High Court judge rules for CATI
We win our long delayed application for an emergency hearing!  
Judge Curran agreed that Pauline Ellaway  is a 'standard bearer' for many other members of the public who are deeply concerned about the incinerator development.
He ordered an emergency full hearing of Ms Ellaway's case at which all issues will be considered.
The Judge said “the actions of Viridor in the first place in proceeding to begin works prematurely, as they did, and of the council in protesting only after being prompted by CATI, and then effectively condoning such conduct” raise issues of “procedural propriety”.
CATI is pleased that the Judge ruled the Hearing should cover most of our points, though not the failure to consider impacts om the Severn Estuary (Habitats Directive assessment).
Dave Prosser of CATI said: “the judge slapped down the Council's assertion that our objections were 'unarguable'. Their planning committee had the legal case before them at their meeting in February, but led by their chair Cllr Michael Michael, failed to seek proper advice before they dismissed it, deciding then to risk public money on a court case”.
Max Wallis of CATI added:
“The judge has knocked another hole in Cardiff Council's plan to sign a contract with Viridor, with the High Court judge finding the company acted unlawfully in starting building works last July, action that Cardiff Council condoned by refusing to stop it.  It's a further reason for the five Councils in Prosiect Gwyrdd to question the £600million 25-year contract to incinerate excessive tonnages of waste.”
------------------------------------------------
We expect the case will go for a 2-day emergency hearing at Cardiff High Court in December.
Cllr Michael Michael (chair of Planning cttee) exposed himself in the Echo on 3rd October, railing against legal aid funding.  See our answer on cardiffagainsttheincinerator.blogspot.com and (hopefully) in the Echo or walesonline.co.uk letters.
Max Wallis   07714163254 - on behalf of CATI
Note that we continue to meet on Mondays in the Old Illts club, Splott Bridge.