Issue - meetings

To consider the Waste Management Service Specification.

Approve the Waste Management Service Specification, attached as Appendix 1 of the Officer’s report, subject to the following amendment:

Part (II) – Dry Recyclable Waste Collection Service:

‘2.2  The Waste Service shall be required to separate and collect Dry Recyclable Waste …’

By way of a report from the Interim Head of Service (Operations) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered the Waste Management Service Specification.

The Service Specification had been developed to better direct the waste management activities delivered by the Operations Service and to make service delivery arrangements and standards more transparent for residents.

The Waste Management Service provided by the Council included all doorstep collection services, specialist collection services and the trade waste service.  The Cabinet were referred to paragraph 2.3 of the Officer’s report which detailed the full scope of the services provided within the Specification.

At 7.08pm Councillor J Gray entered the meeting.

Having referred to paragraph 2.2 of the Dry Recyclable Waste Collection Service Specification, the Cabinet agreed the following amendment:

‘The Waste Service shall be required to separate and collect Dry Recyclable Waste …’

Having been invited to address the Cabinet, the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economy and Growth) explained that the Panel had suggested the Service should aim to collect missed bins within 24 hours; and that the target for the delivery of replacement bins should be reduced from six weeks to four weeks.  The Panel was also supportive of the opening of waste disposal facilities on bank holidays to enable the provision of collections on bank holidays.  Whereupon the Cabinet,

RESOLVED

to approve the Waste Management Service Specification, attached as Appendix 1 of the Officer’s report, subject to the following amendment:

Part (II) – Dry Recyclable Waste Collection Service:

‘2.2  The Waste Service shall be required to separate and collect Dry Recyclable Waste …’

The Panel is to receive a report on a Service Specification for the Waste Service.

With the aid of a report by the Interim Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Waste Service – Service Specification was presented to the Panel. Members were informed that the Service Specification is an operational document aimed at directing the service and improving delivery of the service. The core hours for the delivery of collection services going forward will be 6.30am to 3.00pm.

Members commented that since a series of policies and working practices have been implemented they have received fewer complaints regarding the Waste Service.

The Panel commented that they were concerned that there was not the sufficient level of staff within the service especially considering the level of staff sickness however the Panel was informed that the service does have a sufficient level of staff and that management are taking proactive measures to reduce staff sickness.

Following a concern that six weeks was too long to get a bin delivered Members were informed that the service would be working on decreasing the six week timescale.

The Panel was informed that the Council are focusing on getting trade waste contracts from small businesses in order to increase revenue.

In response to a question regarding the asbestos disposal service Members were informed that the service is funded by the County Council and that the County Council will only dispose of cement based asbestos for free. The Council is responsible for the administration of the service within the District.

Following a question on what items could be included in the green bin Members were advised that shredded paper, tea bags and food waste can be disposed of in the green bin. If all residents put these items into the green bin instead of the black bin then the amount of waste going to landfill would be significantly reduced.

Regarding missed bins, the Panel was advised that the Council is committed to recovering missed bins within 48 hours and that currently 98% of missed bins are recovered within 48 hours. Although residents would have to consider that the Council does not include weekends or Bank Holidays within the 48 hour recovery time frame.

In summary the Panel wanted to highlight the following key points:

1)  the Panel would like the service to investigate the possibility of recovering missed bins within 24 hours;

2)  Members are keen that the delivery of replacement bins are reduced from the current six week timescale, and

3)  the Panel would like the service to investigate the possibility of opening recycling facilities on bank holidays.