Issue - meetings

An update on the Garden Waste Subscription Service is to be presented to the Panel.

Executive Councillor: S Taylor

By means of a report and presentation by the General Manager for Operations (copies of which were appended in the Minute Book), an update on the Garden Waste Subscription Service was presented to the Panel.

Councillor Bywater praised the hard work undertaken by the teams in implementing the service and requested that information on the additional tonnage to grey bins since the introduction of the service be provided to the Panel as it becomes available. In response to a further question from Councillor Bywater, the Panel heard that take up of Parish based communal bins had been mitigated by the take up of the service by individual residents. The Panel were also advised that the team were looking at multiple approaches for Parishes who wished to take up a communal bin offer and that further communication on this would be fed through to parishes.

Following a concern raised by Councillor Alban, the team would investigate whether an increased tonnage in the grey bins had increased frequency of refuse vehicles to be emptied.

The Panel heard, following an enquiry from Councillor Shaw, in the event of residents moving properties, that the system did not currently match green waste subscriptions with Council Tax records, however this could be done manually by residents contacting Customer Services.

The Panel were assured, following a query by Councillor Mokbul, that all those who had paid for the service would have a collection due to the electronic system even if they had not received their label sticker for the bin itself.

In response to a question from Councillor Hunt, the Panel heard that more details were being developed on a kerbside food waste collection and that the team were currently expecting an implementation date around Spring 2026.

The Panel heard, following a question from Councillor Alban, that although monthly payment options had been explored for the service, the administrative cost of this made them prohibitive.

Following a question from Councillor Tevlin, the Panel heard that only seven parishes had taken up the offer for communal bins.

In response to a question from Councillor Bywater about potential exemptions for ecclesiastical buildings, the Panel heard that this would be investigated and reported back to the Panel in the future.