editor, Author at Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority

Notice of the Commencement of the Period for Exercise of Public Rights

MERSEYSIDE WASTE DISPOSAL AUTHORITY

AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021

Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014

Accounts and Audit (England) Regulations 2015

The Accounts and Audit (Coronavirus) Amendments Regulations 2021

Notice is hereby given under the above regulations that the unaudited Statement of Accounts of Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (which may be subject to change) for the year ended 31 March 2021 are published on this website: www.merseysidewda.gov.uk Page: https://www.merseysidewda.gov.uk/governance-and-finance/accounts-audit-budget/

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed changes made to the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015. The Accounts and Audit (Coronavirus) Amendments Regulations 2021 has extended the statutory deadlines for the production and audit of the 2020/21 accounts. This change anticipated the impact of closed offices, potential staff absences and all staff involved in production of the statutory accounts working from home.

The publication date for audited accounts has moved from 31 July to 30 September 2021 for all local authority bodies. To give authorities more flexibility, the requirement for the public inspection period to include the first 10 working days of June has been removed. Instead, local authorities must start the public inspection period on or before the first working day of August 2021.

Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority (“ the Authority”) Accounts are subject to external audit by Andrew Smith for and on behalf of Grant Thornton LLP, Royal Liver Building, Liverpool, L3 1PS.

Members of the public and local government electors have certain rights in the audit process:

From 1^st August 2021 for a period of 30 working days any person may inspect the Accounts, Annual Governance Statement and Narrative Report of the Authority for the year ended 31 March 2021 and certain related documents (comprising books, deeds, contracts, bills, vouchers and receipts). The Accounts and associated documents would normally be available for inspection at No 1 Mann Island, Liverpool, L3 1BP, however, due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19, alternative arrangements will need to be made.
A notice of intention to inspect the accounting records and other documents should be given in writing and sent to the Director of Finance, MWDA, 7^th Floor, 1 Mann Island, Liverpool L3 1BP. Email: Peter.williams@merseysidewda.gov.uk
At the request of a local government elector for any area to which the Accounts relate, the local auditor must give the elector, or any representative of the elector, an opportunity to question the auditor about the accounting records. Please contact the auditor at the address given above to make arrangements to ask any questions.
In accordance with Section 26 and 27 of the Act a local government elector for the area of the Authority, or his/her representative, may object to an area of the Authority Accounts if it concerns a matter in respect of which the auditor could make a public interest report. Written notice of a proposed objection and the grounds on which it is made must be sent to the auditor at the address given above and copies to the Authority at the address given below.

Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority
7th Floor, No 1 Mann Island
Liverpool
L3 1BP

Email: enquiries@merseysidewda.gov.uk

Web: www.merseysidewda.gov.uk

A project to help householders cut food waste, eat more healthily and save money is celebrating a funding boost.

Feedback Global has received £19,900 from the Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority (MRWA) Community Fund to run the Your Food Needs YOU! scheme which is delivering cookery workshops and events in order to raise awareness of and help reduce household food waste.

An estimated 140,000 tonnes of food is wasted in the Liverpool City Region each year. A lot of this could still be used and would save the average family £720 a year in groceries. It is this behaviour the project is hoping to change.

Carina Millstone, Executive Director at Feedback Global, said: “We pride ourselves in creating volunteer opportunities and skills on food waste issues for everyone, everywhere, of all ages and ability.

“At the heart of our work is a deep appreciation for the value of food, the role of good food in building communities and the need for local and regional work to build regenerative, regional circular food economies that support positive environmental, health and social outcomes. Funding from MRWA will allow us to adapt our successful model of taking local action on food waste, whilst raising broader public awareness of the issue.”

The project is delivering a programme of quirky, high-profile food-waste-busting events and ingredient harvesting days which brings members of the community together to learn about, appreciate and enjoy food, and simultaneously reduce waste. One part of the programme includes running experimental ‘Food Labs’ which asks participants to bring in five food items from home. They are shown how to extend the shelf life of the items and create healthy meals from the ingredients.

It was originally planned that classes would be delivered in person, however due to Coronavirus and social distancing measures they have mostly been held digitally, including an online cabbage pickling workshop which ran on Global Scouse Day.

By the end of the project in June Feedback hope to have:

– trained up 20-40 Community members to help deliver messages of food waste and act as local food champions,

– engaged 285 people increasing their practical food skills, appreciation of food value and knowledge of the environmental impact of food waste,

– prevented the waste of around 2268kg of commonly wasted household foods through increased food waste avoidance skills among participants.

Feedback’s Merseyside-based project Alchemic Kitchen is delivering the scheme, with the social enterprise experienced in minimising waste, building the circular food economy and improving access to seasonal, nutritious food. Locals residents can even sign up and make a Food Pledge at www.alchemickitchen.co.uk.

Lucy Antal at Alchemic Kitchen, said: “At the heart of ‘Your Food Needs YOU!’ is a message about the value of food and the environmental and climate impacts of wasting it. In addition to reducing food waste, we anticipate that participants will be more aware of wider links between what we eat, climate change and biodiversity loss, such as reducing how much meat we eat.”

Carl Beer, Chief Executive of MRWA, said: “Food waste is a big issue with significant environmental effects. Projects like Your Food Needs You can get people to recognise that the food they buy exists within a circular economy – from farm to fork – while having a real impact in reducing household food waste.”

Ends

News to editors:

• Attached picture caption: Photograph taken at a food glean at Speke Hall, Liverpool. Apples that were collected were then redistributed to households who took part in Alchemic Kitchen online workshops.

• Founded in 2013, Feedback Global is a campaign group which works to regenerate nature by transforming food systems and achieving positive change
• Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority is responsible for the disposal of municipal waste on Merseyside. Established in 1986 following the abolition of Merseyside County Council, it is a statutory Authority that works with all the local authorities on Merseyside – Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral. MRWA takes a lead in advocating recycling, waste minimisation and safe and effective disposal of waste for Merseyside residents.

• The MRWA and Veolia Community Fund 20/21 has seen 15 community groups from Merseyside and Halton share £150,000 to help make the region a cleaner and greener place. The financial support will see the groups help reduce household waste, encourage recycling and resource re-use, and prevent carbon emissions.