Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Head of Operational Services on the procurement of equipment and the onward delivery of a separate weekly food waste collection service by April 2026.

Executive Councillor: S Taylor.

The Cabinet has delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Place and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Parks and Countryside, Waste and Street Scene and Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources, to pursue the procurement of equipment and onward delivery of the separate weekly food waste collections project to meet the Government mandated deadline of April 2026.

A report by the Head of Operational Services was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) seeking the Cabinet’s approval to pursue the procurement of equipment and onward delivery of a separate weekly food waste collection service by April 2026.

The Cabinet were informed by the Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Waste and Street Scene of the legal requirement to introduce a separate weekly food waste collection from households by 31st March 2026.It was reported that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs were yet to provide any details on the level of funding for Council’s to introduce the new initiative, but this funding would be utilised to purchase food waste caddies, bins and dedicated collection vehicles.

Attention was then drawn to the views and proposed additional recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environment, Communities and Partnerships). These recommendations were discussed in detail with varying views from Cabinet Members. The Executive Councillor for Climate, Transformation and Workforce indicated her support for the proposed recommendation relating to the creation of a Food Waste Collection Service Working Group and suggested that alternative wording might be used for proposed recommendation 2 to the effect of “a future report being submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environment, Communities and Partnerships) indicating updated revenue and operational information in advance of the commencement of the service”. In terms of the former, the Cabinet were reminded by the Chief Executive that a Working Group could be established by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel without the need for Cabinet’s approval. Having regard to the latter, the view was held that transparency on the funding for this initiative would emerge as a matter of course through in-year financial and budgetary monitoring and would be picked up by the Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Waste and Street Scene as part of her executive portfolio responsibilities.

The Chief Executive also took the opportunity to remind the Cabinet of their responsibilities around executive decision making and that it was not their duty to discuss detail such as future communication and engagement strategies at their meetings. Furthermore, comment was made about the need to think beyond the short term and to be mindful of what information might be forthcoming in respect of this project over the ensuing 6-month period.

Having agreed to receive and note the additional recommendations proposed by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environment, Communities and Partnerships), it was

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet delegate authority to the Corporate Director - Place and Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Waste and Street Scene and Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources, to pursue the procurement of equipment and onward delivery of the separate weekly food waste collections project to meet the Government mandated deadline of April 2026.

The Panel are invited to comment on the Procurement of Vehicles and Containers for Weekly Food Waste Collection Service Report.

Executive Cllr: S Taylor

By means of a report by the Head of Operations, (a copy of which was appended in the Minute Book), the Procurement of Vehicles and Containers for Weekly Food Waste Collection Service was presented to the Panel.

Concern was expressed that the procurement costs of the vehicles and caddies may increase as the demand would be likely to increase due to demand. The Panel heard that the costs within the report were current but that it was anticipated that they would fluctuate with demand as the implementation date drew nearer. The Panel were assured that the Council’s procurement team were already briefed and involved to ensure that the project could proceed as soon as practicable.

A shortfall in the funding of the capital investment was identified and the Panel heard that these were indicative costs and that there would be an aim to keep the project within the funding parameters. It was also confirmed that it was hoped that any shortfall would be covered by further funding opportunities.

Further concern was expressed that it appeared that operational costs for the service had not yet been established and in turn would thereby impact the Council’s finances. Following a debate by the Panel, it was established that there would be a desire to see further details on the financial aspects of the project to be brought back to the Panel. It was proposed by Councillor Alban to add an additional recommendation to the Cabinet report, this was seconded by Councillor Criswell and the Panel voted unanimously in favour of forwarding the proposed recommendation to the Cabinet;

2) to produce a report detailing the revenue and capital costs of the project and submit this to the democratic cycle of meetings.

Concern was expressed over the anticipated funding from DEFRA which had not yet been confirmed. The Panel heard that the collection project was still in it’s infancy with the capital costs having been identified, the Panel were assured that communications were ongoing with DEFRA to establish long term funding for the scheme. The Panel were further assured that the Council were a member of the RECAP partnership and as such were working with neighbouring authorities to move forward. It was proposed by Councillor Hunt to add an additional recommendation to the Cabinet report, this was seconded by Councillor Kerr and the Panel voted unanimously in favour of forwarding the proposed recommendation to the Cabinet;

3) to encourage Cabinet to write to the DEFRA Secretary to confirm the revenue funding as soon as practicable.

The Panel heard, that the anaerobic digestion of the waste created energy generation and also created an end product which could be used as a fertiliser. The Panel also heard that the food waste collection should be as organic as possible, and that no plastics should be placed within the caddies. It was hoped that the weekly food waste collection would result in a reduction of waste within the grey bins but that existing collection arrangements would not be affected.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45