Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Waste Operations Manager on a proposed chargeable green waste collection service.

Executive Councillor: M Hassall

The Cabinet  have

a) noted the risks associated with the proposal, both financially and reputationally, that have been highlighted within the report that may arise through emerging national waste policies and guidance, and changes to Cambridgeshire County Council’s Waste Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Contract which require approval from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

b) agreed to the introduction of a household garden waste subscription service from 1st April 2024, as set out within the service terms and conditions attached as Appendix 2 of the report;

c) agreed to changes to the Waste Collection Policies, relating to the introduction of the chargeable subscription household garden waste service as set out in Appendix 2 of the report;

d) agreed that for 2024/25 the annual collection charge be set at £57.50 per first bin and authorise the Executive Councillor for Corporate and Shared Services in consultation with the Managing Director to review and confirm the currently proposed £30 for each additional bin to the maximum of 4 bins;

e) agreed to use the revenue generated by the chargeable subscription household garden waste service to fund the start-up project costs including service redesign, temporary staff resource, website redesign and implementation of associated IT systems (as set out in the financial model Table 3);

f) agreed that the existing non-chargeable household garden waste collection service will cease from 31 March 2024. Arrangements will be made during Q2 FY 2024/25 to collect any bins from households that do not wish to subscribe and wish to return them;

g) agreed to implement a robust communications campaign and incentivisation scheme to encourage subscription sign-ups and promote behaviour change for our residents in waste minimisation; and

h) agreed to complete a review of the impact of the introduction of a household waste subscription service on lower income residents.

Consideration was given to a report by the General Manager for Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the Household Garden Waste Subscription Service.

The Executive Councillor for Corporate and Shared Services referred to comments received from members of the public and also the comments raised by the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Panel at their meeting on 6th July 2023. It was acknowledged that, whilst not a popular decision, the planned introduction of the subscription service would protect the garden waste service for residents across the district.

The Cabinet heard that through the introduction of the subscription service, the continuation of the garden waste service would be possible, and due to the resulting balanced budget, focus could be directed to helping those residents most in need with specific mention being made of the forthcoming review of the Council Tax Support Scheme.

The Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources observed that in hindsight, had increases been made to Council Tax over previous years, the cost of continuing the garden waste collection free of charge may be feasible, however these increases had not been implemented, therefore the introduction of the subscription charge would be the only way to continue the service.

In discussing the views of Overview and Scrutiny and residents in detail, the following points were covered;

·  that there is a need to generate income and operate efficiently as a Council, therefore the introduction of the subscription fee for this non-statutory service would allow for the continuation of the service. It was also noted that over 50% of Councils within the Eastern region already charge residents for garden waste collections;

·  that garden waste collections are a non statutory service, there is no legal obligation to collect garden waste, however the proposed subscription fee would make the service self-sufficient;

·  reference was made to a review of the service in the budget principles as discussed at a meeting of the Full Council in December 2022;

·  that a consultation had not been carried out due to the unviable continuation of this non statutory service free of charge, however consultations were planned to discuss the implementation and alternative waste management options with residents;

·  that a reduction in C02 was expected due to reduced collection rounds, resulting in a reduction in required collection vehicles and reduction in journey time for the collections;

·  that work will be undertaken to encourage a behavioural change in residents as analysis of grey bins shows their contents currently include 42% of organic matter;

·  that residents would be able to share green bins with their neighbours and it would be up to residents to make their own arrangements to this effect;

·  that alternative collection options had been considered, the proposed subscription service will protect frontline services whilst retaining the non statutory green waste collections;

·  that an increase in fly-tipping had been considered, however analysis of neighbouring authorities who had already introduced a subscription fee showed no increase to this problem, it was also noted that the Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25

The Panel is invited to comment on the Household Garden Waste Subscription Service Report.

Executive Councillor: M A Hassall

By means of a report by the General Manager for Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Panel discussed the Household Garden Waste Subscription Service.

Councillor Criswell expressed his anger over the report and proposed subscription, giving his reasons as due to;

·  the way that the proposal had been received by members of the public;

·  failure to use Overview and Scrutiny to help develop the proposal;

·  introduction of a charge on an existing service;

·  charging residents who are trying to do the right thing by recycling green waste;

·  disproportionately affecting elderly residents who enjoy gardening but may be on a low income;

·  no consultation with residents on the proposed subscription charge;

·  concern that the make up of the joint administration politically is not one that residents had voted for; and

·  that Executive Councillors are not owning the proposed subscription introduction and suggesting that the decision to introduce had been made by Officers.

The Panel were assured that whilst the proposed fee of £57.50 had been modelled by Officers, the proposed subscription had been proposed by the Joint Administration.

Councillor Gardener observed that the report and Executive Councillors had highlighted that the fee was being introduced for those who used the service, and enquired if that meant that residents could request refunds for those services which their Council Tax pays for but that they do not use. The Panel heard that the Joint Administration were aware that this would not be a popular decision but that it was necessary to protect the service for those residents who wished to continue to use it. The Panel heard that garden waste collection is a non statutory collection and that the Council is no longer able to deliver this service free of charge. The proposed changes would also allow local business opportunity and innovation in opening up opportunities for alternative waste collections.

Concern was expressed by Councillor Cawley that the figures within the report were scare tactics and may be working to fund a shortfall that may not happen. He also queried the quoted reduction in CO2 emissions given that many residents may choose to dispose of their garden waste at local recycling centres by private car instead of subscribing to the service.

In response to these questions, the Panel heard that;

·  the shortfall figure of £8.3 million was a worst case scenario but that without action there would be a shortfall which would accumulate year on year; and

·  that the predicted CO2 emissions reduction was due to a reduction of refuse vehicles on the road, due to reduced collections and also reduced waste to be reprocessed.

Councillors Cawley and Lowe enquired how it was anticipated that residents would create less green waste should they not have a green bin. The Panel were advised that analysis of other Councils who have undergone the same process, showed that those without a garden waste receptacle generated less green waste. It was further advised that residents also had the option to compost,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5