A report from the Executive Director – Place is attached. (Report No.175, agenda part two also refers). (Key decision – reference number 4810)

(Report No.159)

(7.20 – 7.30 pm)

Councillor Guney Dogan (Cabinet Member for Environment) introduced the report of the Executive Director – Place (No.159) proposing that the Council adopts a revised waste and recycling collection system for kerbside properties with a wheeled bin.

NOTED

1.            That Report No.175 also referred as detailed in Minute No.18 below.

2.            The proposal for a revised waste and recycling collection system for kerbside properties with a wheeled bin as set out in full in the report and summarised in section 1. The financial context and implications of the proposals were explained within the Council’s overall budget pressures and funding constraints, summarised in section 3 of the report.

3.            That the Council currently spent approximately £15.1m on collecting, treating and disposing and waste and recycling across the Borough. Waste disposal costs were likely to significantly increase. Additionally, the former Government grant of £2.4 million to retain weekly collections for waste and recycling had now ceased (paragraph 3.7 of the report referred).

4.            That the Council had been reviewing various areas across the organisation to try to meet the current and future budget gap. The work which had been undertaken in reviewing the waste and recycling collections was set out in detail in the report and considered by Members.

5.            That the primary driver to implement the changes was financial savings, and then conformity with the London Mayor’s Environment Strategy and, to consider the responses to the consultation which had been undertaken. Financial savings for Option 7 were significantly higher when compared to any other proposal or current collection system; it conformed with the London Mayor’s Environment Strategy; and, had a projected increase in recycling to 49%. It had been the least preferred option amongst the respondents to the consultation. Retaining the current system had been the preferred option of the people that responded.

6.            In summary the proposal was to:

·         Collect refuse every fortnight rather than weekly (collections from the property would be made on the alternative week to collections for dry recycling)

·         Collect dry recycling every fortnight rather than weekly (collections from the property to be made on the alternative week to collections for refuse)

·         Provide a new service of a weekly separate food waste collection

·         Introduce a £65 per year charge to collect garden waste from households that opt into the scheme (additional bins per property to be charged at £65 per year)

·         Recruitment of 2 additional Recycling Officers

·         Recruitment of 2 additional Enforcement Officers

·         Invest £500k in Street Cleansing Services

7.            That the total net savings over the 5-year business plan would be £7.5m from Waste Services and £2.2m of re-investment into Street Cleansing Services over the same period.

8.            The context within which this proposal should be considered is that of the Council’s budget and financial constraints. This was a difficult time for local government and it was essential to ensure that the Council’s decision-making was responsible and financially resilient in going forward; and, protected the most vulnerable residents who depended on the Council’s service provision.

9.            A  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4