Agenda item

The Panel are to receive the Waste Round Reconfiguration Update.

With the aid of a report by the Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Waste Round Reconfiguration Update was presented to the Panel. The Executive Councillor for Operations introduced the report and reminded Members that currently the focus of the Operations service is to effectively communicate the round changes to residents before they ‘go live’.

The Panel was informed that the implementation date has been re-profiled to 27th February 2017 and that this has given Operations time to communicate to residents that their collection day is changing. Members were informed that 80% of collections will change and in all cases the collections will remain in the same week but will be on different days.

The re-profiled date will also give the refuse collection officers more time to study their new rounds before implementation. Members were informed that the refuse collection officers will remain on the same waste stream (i.e. officers collecting waste will always collect waste and officers collecting recycling will always collect recycling) in order to maximise efficiency.

Additional information (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on the communications timetable, communications information and a briefing note was presented to the Panel. Members were informed that the online collection calendar will be up to date and will ‘go live’ on the week commencing 16th January 2017. The Panel was informed that the rounds will be reviewed in 2020.

The Chairman asked the Panel to consider the addition recommendation of inviting the Head of Operations and the Executive Councillor for Operations to attend the Panel meeting on 7th March 2017 to verbally update Members on the implementation of the reconfigured rounds.

A Member noted that the report states two different figures as the potential savings of the round reconfiguration however the Panel were informed that the figure of £270k is the correct amount.

In response to a question on how the reconfigured rounds will affect particular areas and vulnerable residents, the Panel were informed that if there are areas in which vulnerable residents would be affected then Members and Officers should exchange information so that both parties can effectively communicate the change to vulnerable residents.

Following a question on how long would it take the refuse collection officers to become accustomed to the new rounds, Members were informed about 4 to 6 weeks. The refuse collection officers will receive maps of the new rounds the week commencing 16th January and will therefore have time become accustomed to the reconfigured rounds before going live.

The Head of Operations informed Members that the Christmas period went well for the service and that only ten complaints have been received. The Panel would like to thank the waste collection officers for their hard work.

A Member suggested putting information on the waste round reconfiguration in doctors surgeries, as some residents will read the information available whilst waiting for their appointment.

Members were informed that the service can’t reduce the amount of recycling rounds as they take longer to complete due to volume of recycling and the contamination checks that the waste collection officers have to carry out.

In response to the question why can a resident receive a second blue bin for free but are charged for a second green bin. The Panel were informed that the Council are the statutory authority for collecting waste and recycling but not for garden waste so therefore the garden waste service is completely discretionary.

The Panel agreed to recommend to Cabinet that they should endorse the re-profiled live date of 27th February 2017.