A RESTRUCTURE is taking place at the Dorset Waste Partnership in a bid to save thousands of pounds after huge failings saw it go over budget.

Interviews are currently taking place and the new structure will be in place from September. It is expected to save £70,000.

It comes after an urgent investigation was launched with three independent reviews undertaken into the partnership’s budget management, decision making and the use of hire vehicles, after an overspend of £2.8 million.

The DWP joint committee had agreed 37 changes to the way the service is run after criticism following the roll-out of the Recycle for Dorset scheme in Weymouth and Portland.

A total of 28 DWP vehicles had been operated without notifying the national government body about their insurance details - a criminal offence.

Two companies had also been awarded work worth £1.5 million without a proper tendering process.

Dorset County Council’s cabinet were bound under the Government and Housing Act 1989 to consider a report looking into the criminal offence.

It was agreed that the DWP would be 'fully compliant' by the end of this month.

The restructure will not affect senior management, who saw a restructure last year.

Director Steve Burdis is still suspended from his £70,000-a-year role and Nigel Mattravers is leading operations in the interim.

A Dorset Waste Partnership spokesman said: "The Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP) is currently carrying out a restructure of its management, administration and transport teams. This does not include frontline operations staff, who have been restructured as the new collection service has been rolled out, or the senior management team, which has already been restructured.

"The DWP was formed in three phases as staff transferred from partner councils and contractors, meaning that a number of short-term arrangements have been in place. This has been reviewed to create a single, coherent staff structure to deliver the DWP's objectives as efficiently as possible. The new structure will come into effect on September 1. It will save the DWP around £70,000 a year."