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The Chief Operating Officer submitted a report a copy of which had been circulated to each Member together with minute 96 from the Scrutiny Panel meeting of 12 December 2016.
David Kent addressed the Cabinet pursuant to the provisions of Meetings General Procedure Rule 5(1). The survey on which the proposals were based had only reached 2% of residents of the borough. In Stanway this would equate to a very small number of households. It was unclear how these households had been selected and whether this was this was a representative sample. Wheeled bins were not wanted as they were an eyesore and were difficult for the elderly or disabled to move. Concern was also expressed about the reduction in the size of white garden waste sacks.
Former Councillor Peter Thompson addressed the Cabinet pursuant to the provisions of Meetings General Procedure Rule 5(1). When addressing the Scrutiny Panel he had highlighted the lack of public involvement in recycling and waste management issues. The Council’s proposals demonstrated that a combined system of black bag and wheeled bins methods of collection alongside each other was possible. Residents should be able to simply choose which method they preferred. Such a system would be cheaper and would have the advantage of pleasing all residents. The Council needed to approach the issue seriously, with an open mind and put ideas out to open consultation.
Councillor Harris attended and, with the consent of the Chairman, addressed the Cabinet to express concern that some of those who opposed the introduction of wheeled bins were accused of being opposed to recycling. He had conducted his own survey within Berechurch ward which had shown only 20% in favour of wheeled bins and therefore he did not feel able to support the proposals. A number of streets within the ward were not suitable for wheeled bins so a flexible approach needed to be taken, despite the intention to introduce them across the ward. The introduction of wheeled bins also needed to be tempered to take into account the needs of residents who would be unable to manage them.
Councillor Lissimore attended, and with the consent of the Chairman, addressed the Cabinet. A number of the questions she had raised at the Scrutiny Panel remained unanswered. It was unclear how the three bag limit per household for residual waste would be policed. If more sacks were put out, would these be left on the street? In addition, Councillor Lissimore queried how the stocks of white sacks would be monitored. Instead of providing white sacks without charge, it would be more sensible to build in sufficient time on the rounds for white sacks to be properly returned to their properties. No details were provided about the properties that would be receiving wheeled bins. How would the Council deal with those bins that were permanently left out in front of properties?
Councillor Lissimore asked how the changes would increase recycling. Wheeled bins made it easier to hide the fact that households were not recycling. Residents needed more information and better education on how to recycle properly. The consultation had shown that 82% of residents were happy with the existing service and the Council should seek to build and develop this service. No other Council provided the service in this way.
Councillor Warnes attended and, with the consent of the Chairman, addressed the Cabinet. He had consulted widely within Berechurch ward on the proposals in the time available. A wide range of views had been expressed. There were a number of residents who were opposed to wheeled bins per se. They were perceived by some as unsightly, smelly and difficult to move. A number of residents were also opposed to the move to fortnightly collections. However, two views recurred throughout the consultation:-
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Black refuse sacks were smelly, vulnerable to animals, unsightly and were put out early by some residents;
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Many of those who supported wheeled bins did so on the basis that they would help them increase recycling.
Wheeled bins would effectively “design out” the faults inherent in black bags. The exemptions policy would accommodate those who found wheeled bins difficult to manage.
Councillor G. Oxford attended and, with the consent of the Chairman, addressed the Cabinet. Education was key to help residents increase recycling, in particular through schools. One of the main incentives to increase recycling was to reduce landfill tax charges. The scope of the exemptions policy was noted. Facilities to house wheeled bins need to be incorporated into the design of future housing.
Councilor Davies attended and, with the consent of the Chairman, addressed the Cabinet. The extensive scale of the changes proposed was highlighted. Not all of these were required to meet the aims of increasing recycling and reducing the amount of residual waste sent to landfill. This was compared with the simple “Keep it to 3” campaign run by Swansea Council which had significantly improved its recycling performance. An education campaign was needed. It was the amount of waste that was allowed to be collected, rather the receptacle it was collected from that was key. She suggested that the introduction of the following programme of changes would achieve the Council’s objectives at a cost of £300,000, which was a saving of £566,000 on the administration’s proposals:-
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A limit of 3 black bags of residual waste per household;
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Residual waste to be collected fortnightly;
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60 litre black sacks printed with recycling information to be provided free;
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Charging to continue for white garden waste sacks;
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The introduction of a second green box for the separation of glass and cans.
In response, Councillor Graham, Portfolio Holder for Waste and Sustainability, responded to the speakers and made the following points:-
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A significant number of responses had been received to the consultation. The number of responses was in line with that received for other major consultations. The administration had also taken account of the views of local ward councillors in their role as community leaders.
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The smaller white sacks was a result of a manufacturing error. The Council would receive some recompense and any resident that wished to exchange the smaller sacks should contact the Council.
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It was not accepted that the involvement of the public on waste issues had been non-existent. A comprehensive communications plan was in place and considerable public engagement was ongoing. This would include engagement with schools to ensure that behaviour change began at the earliest opportunity.
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The views of those who opposed wheeled bins were respected. He did not accept that residents who opposed wheeled bins did not support recycling.
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Wheeled bins would be provided for the property/household, not for the individual resident.
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In terms of concerns about how the implementation of the changes collections would be policed and monitored, the zones teams and collection staff would be responsible. There would be a 6 month soft launch which would give an opportunity for issues and problems to be addressed as they arose.
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Detailed work on the exact properties that would receive wheeled bins and the collection routes would begin once the proposals had been agreed. It would be premature to begin such time consuming work in advance of this.
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There would be no change to way that stocks of white sacks were monitored.
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The Exemptions Policy would be a flexible document which would evolve over time.
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The need to reduce landfill charges through reducing the amount of residual waste was an important driver behind the proposed changes to the service. Equally important were environmental factors and the need to reduce residual waste sent to landfill to protect the environment.
Councillor Graham also explained that the financial implications of the changes had been looked at very carefully, especially in view of the settlement from central government. As a consequence it was proposed to provide a second green box only to those residents who requested it. Many residents either already had a second box or did not require one. This would reduce the cost of introducing the changes by £150,000.
Councilor Graham thanked the officers involved in developing the proposals. The proposals would reduce the amount of residual waste sent to landfill and increase recycling significantly.
Councillor T. Young, Portfolio Holder for Culture and Regeneration, expressed his support and commended the work of Councillor Graham, together with officers, previous Portfolio Holders and the members of the Waste and Recycling Options Task and Finish Group. Whilst the proposals were a compromise, they would be successful. The administration was keen to improve its performance in recycling and all the best performing authorities had introduced wheeled bins. He was confident that residents who livened in the areas where wheeled bins would be introduced would rise to the challenge and use them effectively. Those who found wheeled bins difficult to manage would be able to request an assisted collection.
Councillor Smith, Leaser of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, thanked all officer and Councillors for their work in developing the proposals. These were the most significant changes to the waste collection arrangements in a generation. As far as was possible, the system was being adapted to meet the wishes of local residents. The proposals also needed to be considered in the context of the cuts to local government funding imposed by central government.
RESOLVED that:-
(a)
The following changes to the way in which the Council collects waste and recycling be agreed:-
(i)
End the provision of free black sacks;
(ii)
Residual waste to be collected fortnightly;
(iii)
A limit of three black sacks for residual waste for areas that do not have wheeled bins;
(iv)
The introduction of a second green box so that glass and cans are separated at the request of the resident;
(v)
Provision of free white garden sacks in areas that will not have wheeled bins from the date of the introduction of the changes;
(vi)
The introduction of wheeled bin collections for specific areas of the Borough; one for residual waste and a second optional bin for garden waste;
(vii)
The continued provision of free clear sacks for recycling materials as at present.
(b)
The exemptions policy that will allow households who are unable to reduce their residual waste for example because of the size of the household, to put out additional residual waste and provision of a weekly collection of medical waste be agreed.
(c)
The revenue implications set out in the Chief Operating Officer’s report be included in the 2017/18 budget and Medium Term Financial Forecast.
(d)
As part of the final budget report it be agreed to recommend to Council the inclusion in the capital programme of the capital budget requirements set out in Chief Operating Officer’s report.
(e)
Subject to appropriate budget provisions being agreed, authority be delegated to the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Waste and Sustainability, for the procurement of the appropriate number of wheeled bins, green boxes and other capital expenditure as outlined in section 12 of the Chief Operating Officer’s report to be funded from the capital programme
REASONS
A waste vision was adopted by the Council in 2015 which sets out how decisions relating to waste management will be reviewed:
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Waste is managed in accordance with the waste hierarchy, so that waste is prevented and minimised where possible
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Reuse activity is encouraged in households and businesses
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Recycling activity increases the quantity of recyclable material and produces high quality materials that are required by re-processors
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The environmental impacts of the whole system of waste management are minimised
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The recycling and waste collection service provided by the Council provides value for money for its customers
The key aims of the proposals are:-
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To improve our performance, in particular reducing residual waste and increasing recycling
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To provide a waste and recycling collection service requested by residents
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS
To retain the current collection methods and to accept inability to improve recycling or further reduce residual waste.
To introduce wheeled bins across the whole Borough
There are a variety of other options around some of the detail, but the decisions proposed, following careful consideration and analysis, are believed to be those that
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most closely meet the views of the public
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deliver the most benefit in terms of improving performance
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provide the best value for money
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meet the priorities set out in the Waste Vision