Agenda item

To consider the decision made by the Cabinet on 22^nd November 2012 on charging for a second green bin, which has been called-in by the Panel, as described in a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

(Councillor J D Ablewhite, Executive Leader of the Council, and Councillor D M Tysoe, Executive Councillor for Environment, were in attendance for consideration of this item).

Pursuant to Minute No. 12/38 and following publication of the Cabinet’s decision on 22nd November 2012 regarding charging for a second green bin, the Panel gave this matter further consideration. The reasons for the call-in were outlined within a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book). The Panel was disappointed that its previous recommendation had not been accepted by the Cabinet.

The three Members who had called in the matter felt that the decision reached by the Cabinet was ambiguous and unclear and expressed the view that a formal assessment should be made of the environmental impacts of the proposals. Furthermore, it was suggested that a list of all the possible savings the Council might make should be compiled and prioritised before a decision was taken on charging for a second green bin.

The Executive Leader of the Council informed the Panel that the Cabinet intended to review all the Council’s options for making savings and increasing income, including the proposal to charge for collecting second green bins, later in the year. If no alternatives were identified, then it was likely that the scheme would proceed. However, the Panel was of the view that if a comprehensive exercise was going to be undertaken to review the Council’s finances, it would be premature to make an “in principle” decision on one item.

In response to a question on what other options for savings had been considered, the Executive Leader advised that approximately £1m had already been saved and others were being considered. Members were reminded of the adoption of the Leadership Direction, one of the targets of which was to achieve a balanced budget. To do this, savings in the order of £3.2m would be required by 2017/18. All options, therefore, were being examined. The Executive Leader gave an undertaking that he would keep Members informed of progress in this respect.

The Panel recognised the need for savings to be made and accepted that the current proposal might need to be implemented. Members were, however, of the view that a judgement could not be made on charging for collecting second green bins unless a comprehensive assessment of all the Council’s options was made available. The Cabinet was requested to produce a list of all possible savings and to prioritise them. Councillor T V Rogers indicated that the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Economic Well-Being) also advocated this approach. In addition, it was suggested that a list of savings already made should be produced to assist the decision making process.

Members received clarification of a number of operational matters connected with the proposal, including whether churches and village halls would be charged, if any operational savings would be achieved and when particular bins would be collected. A suggestion was made that a price analysis was required. On the basis of their deliberations, it was

RESOLVED

(a)  that the option to charge for the collection of second green bins be referred back to the Cabinet; and

(b)  that the Cabinet be recommended to note the proposal to charge for collecting second green bins and to consider it during its deliberations on all the Council’s options for improving its financial position.