AN ACTION plan to shake up the beleaguered Dorset Waste Partnership (DWP) has been rejected by a Dorset council amid claims the service has ‘failed’ the borough.

Weymouth and Portland borough council - one of the partners in the union - was asked to endorse a plan agreed by the DWP joint committee and Dorset County Council.

But councillors on the management committee rejected it and said issues still needed to be addressed as problems were ongoing.

The DWP joint committee agreed 37 changes to the way the service is run after criticism following the roll-out of the Recycle for Dorset scheme in the borough and the service going massively over budget.

As reported, an urgent investigation was launched with three independent reviews undertaken into the partnership’s budget management, decision-making and the use of hire vehicles last month, after DWP overspent by £2.8 million and received complaints over missed collections and lack of bins.

The size of this overspend is currently estimated at £2.95 million.

The overspend means Weymouth and Portland Borough Council has to contribute an additional £218,152 on top of what it has already contributed for 2014/15.

Cllr Mike Goodman said: “I find it absolutely appalling that every time we approve something to do with the DWP it is followed a few months later by a scrutiny committee of why it went wrong.

“DWP has failed us. It’s exceedingly frustrating.”

A report stated recommendations to the joint committee would provide a way forward to ensure that mechanisms are put in place which can deliver the actions identified in the reviews in a timely manner, whilst still seeking to maintain both a control on any additional costs and the delivery of this important service to residents.

But councillors voted against endorsing the action plan.

Cllr Ian Bruce said: “People are still having great problems with the DWP, from bin collections to the issues of seagull-proof bags.

“We need to get it sorted and we need to get it right.”

Cllr Christine James said: “We are all constantly getting complaints and phone calls and enough is enough.”