Agenda item

The Waste Policy Developments and Huntingdon Needs Analysis of Open Spaces and Play Functions is to be presented to the Panel.

With aid of a report by the Interim Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Executive Councillor for Operations and Environment, Councillor R Carter, the Interim Head of Operations and the Operations Manager (Commercial Services) presented the Waste Policy Developments and Huntingdon Needs Analysis of Open Spaces and Play Functions to the Panel.

The Panel was informed that the timescale for the needs analysis had slipped as a result of the amount of work needed in order to complete the needs analysis and the staff resources available. Members were advised that an open spaces needs analysis of Sawtry, Godmanchester and St Neots would be completed by the end of March 2016.

As part of the Waste Policy Developments, the service was required to develop a new lane end collection policy and a new dry recyclates contamination policy. The new lane end collection policy required the individual survey of 87 tracks, lanes and unadopted roads in the District.

The Panel was informed that there was difficultly in collecting from unadopted roads. Options offered to the residents was a request for them to move the bin to the end of the unadopted road on collection day or ask the resident to sign a warranty to allow the refuse collection crews to enter the unadopted road and collect from the property. Members were advised that the warranty ensured that the Council would not be liable for any damage caused by the refuse lorries.

With regards to the open spaces needs analysis, Officers had been identifying current provision and future needs in the towns and parishes. In relation to Huntingdon there was some concern over allotment provision however with regards to the play area provision the analysis identified that four play areas required upgrading from a Locally Equipped Area for Play (LEAP) to a Neighbourhood Equipped Area for Play (NEAP). The areas are highlighted as follows:

·  The Pits, Sapley Road Play Area;

·  Sallowbush Road;

·  Devoke Close; and

·  Elsie’s Way.

Members were advised that following negotiations with Stukeley Meadows Primary School the third play area to be upgraded would be at the school and not Devoke Close. This option had resulted in maintenance and costs to be shared with the School. The Panel was informed that the money to upgrade the play areas was available through existing Section 106 (S106) funding

The new Policy for dry recyclates had evolved as a result of high dissatisfaction with the number of bins rejected. If refuse collection crews identified small items of contamination they would be removed and bagged up and left with an explanatory to the resident that the particular item cannot be recycled. A trial had been carried out on green bin collections and would now be extended to dry recyclates.

Under the new Policy if there was one or two items of contamination the refuse collectors would remove them and collect the bin. However if there was increased contamination a photograph would be taken and transferred to the Call Centre so if the customer phoned the Call Centre would be able to explain why the bin had not been collected.

In relation to a question regarding the identification of the 87 lanes and are there others. Members were informed that the lanes had been identified by speaking to the refuse collectors, local knowledge and customer feedback. Officers stated that they believed not all the lanes had been identified however would be liaising with residents in order to establish the location of other lanes.

In response to a query from a Member regarding the possibility of losing S106 money, Officers confirmed that it was a real risk however a Red, Amber and Green (RAG) status had been established to assist with minimising the risk.

In response to a query regarding the cost to Town and Parish Councils regarding ongoing maintenance, Members were advised that the Council needed to have the dialogue with the Town and Parish Councils. The ongoing maintenance costs had been covered by the Town and Parish Councils however if the cost because too great then decommissioning would be considered as an option.

Members were advised that in response to a shortage of allotments, that a different range of options had been considered including identifying areas for allotments outside of Huntingdon and releasing land for community gardens however further consultation needed to be undertaken.

Members explained that one of the problems with recycling contamination was education, as some residents still believed that clothes would be recycled. The Panel was informed that there would be an awareness campaign to inform residents of the specific items that could be recycled.