No disclosures of interest in matters under consideration were received.

Recommended –

That the minutes of the meetings held on 28 June and 26 July  2016 be signed as a correct record (previously circulated).

(Jane Lythgow/Tracey Sugden – 01274 432270/434287)

Resolved –

That the minutes of the meetings held on 28 June and 26 July 2016 be signed as a correct record.

(Access to Information Procedure Rules – Part 3B of the Constitution)

Reports and background papers for agenda items may be inspected by contacting the person shown after each agenda item.  Certain reports and background papers may be restricted. 

Any request to remove the restriction on a report or background paper should be made to the relevant Strategic Director or Assistant Director whose name is shown on the front page of the report. 

If that request is refused, there is a right of appeal to this meeting. 

Please contact the officer shown below in advance of the meeting if you wish to appeal. 

(Jane Lythgow/Tracey Sugden – 01274 432270/434287)

There were no appeals submitted by the public to review decisions to restrict documents.

None.

There were no referrals to the Committee.

The Scrutiny Lead will provide a verbal update on the progress of the Flooding Scrutiny Review that is being undertaken by the Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

(Mustansir Butt – 01274 432574)

The Scrutiny Lead provided a verbal update on the progress of the Flooding Scrutiny Review that was being undertaken by the Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

He advised that a number of sessions had taken place and that a draft report would be considered at the meeting to be held on 29 September 2016 to which all stakeholders would be invited. He also noted that the report had close links to this Committee’s work on water management and that he would send it to all members for information. 

ACTION: Overview And Scrutiny Lead

The Strategic Director (Environment & Sport) will present a report (Document “H”) which provides a report to the Committee on the performance of Waste Services for the year 2015-16.

Recommended –

That the Committee acknowledge the report on the performance of Waste Services in 2015/16 and continue to support Waste Services in their efforts to improve the management of the Local Authority Collected Waste and the services provided to the public.

(Richard Longcake – 01274 432855)

The Strategic Director (Environment & Sport) presented a report (Document “H”) which provided a report to the Committee on the performance of Waste Services for the year 2015-16.

He provided a detailed breakdown of the report which highlighted an increase in waste levels in the final quarter of the year, most probably as a result of the Boxing Day floods in the District. He also highlighted that a reduction in the level of recycling was not the result of lower kerbside collections but rather that the level of recyclates had been affected by a depressed market and a resultant reluctance to take such material on the part of contractors. Changes to the type of material permitted as compost by the Environment Agency had also resulted in the overall recycling performance dropping by 10%.

A change to reporting procedures had also resulted in a dramatic change to the amount of household waste not being sent for recycling or composting, rather than a change in behaviours.

The Strategic Director also noted that there was a new performance indicator in respect of missed bin collections as a measure of how the service was performing.

In response to a question from the Chair, he advised that the figure shown represented all missed collections for various reasons including parking problems preventing access or a collection happening later in the day than expected. He also explained that if a crew found their access blocked by inconsiderate parking, another attempt to collect would be made later in the day or the next day.

Members then questioned or commented on the report and presentation as follows:-

·        Were there targets for the contractor in terms of recyclates ?

·        Had the new reporting method in respect of household waste not sent for recycling or composting been applied in retrospect to previous years ?

·        Did the report show a decline in waste going to landfill ?

·        What measures were undertaken to avoid a repeat of a missed collection due to inconsiderate parking ?

·        Did the service consult with residents on best days to collect ?

·        Did the service publicise the possibility of larger families having larger bins ?

In response, the Director advised that there were currently no targets for contractors as the contracts were interim; he also clarified that the method of calculation for household waste not sent for recycling or composting had always been correct however the definition used had not been clear. This meant that pervious year’s measurements had been correct.

In response to the query in respect of an apparent decline in waste going to landfill, he advised that the figure also took into account waste which was sent for thermal conversion and that this explained the figure shown.  

He went on to explain the process for dealing with missed collections due to lack of access, including attendance on site by the service manager, consultation with local residents, standard correspondence and enlisting the help of neighbourhood wardens. He also confirmed that routes had been developed to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

The Chair of the Committee will present Document “I” which outlines the work programme for 2016/17.

Recommended –

That Members consider and comment on the areas of work included in the 2016-17 work programme for the Committee.

(Mustansir Butt – 01274 432574)

The Chair of the Committee presented Document “I” which outlined the work programme for 2016/17 and the Overview and Scrutiny Lead advised that agenda items for meetings in October and November would be rearranged to deal with a very full programme of items.

ACTION: Overview & Scrutiny Lead