Issue - meetings

Report of the Cabinet Member Clean and Green Environment

RESOLVED THAT

a)    Option 2a (Option A as shown in 2^nd consultation) with routes optimisation be approved and a recommendation be given to Full Council for formal approval of the associated budget required for implementation

b)    Subject to Full Council approval of the finances to support option 2a, an order be placed for new recycling collection vehicles

c)    A Cabinet Member Working Group be set-up to oversee Phase II (implementation) of the project

d)    the Cabinet Member in consultation with the Cabinet Member Working Group be given delegated authority to approve the additional recyclables to be collected i.e. cartons, textiles, batteries or small waste electricals (WEEE) subject to being within the new service budget

The Cabinet Member Clean and Green Environment introduced the report and said that much work had been undertaken to plan, review and improve the fleet for recycling and plan and redesign the waste and recycling service. Two large scale consultations had taken place in collaboration with the Echo. The fleet was due to be renewed next year and a plan was in place to do that. He referred to the large scale consultation exercise which had taken place and which had received more than 3000 responses and which provided a clear steer as to the way forward for waste collection. He reported that 60 % of those who responded were in favour of retaining the existing fortnightly landfill collections and recycling with 20 % in favour of 3 weekly collection and 20 % in favour of comingled recycling collections. The report therefore recommended Option 2a for implementation in 2017.

The Cabinet was committed to maintaining the existing level of recycling and would now be extending it to include heavy cardboard and mixed plastics.  In terms of route utilisation the Cabinet Member stated that there had been a number of large scale property developments during the last five years which had increased total property numbers and diluted the efficiency of the collection service. With more developments to come he informed that a route optimisation exercise would have to be undertaken.

The Cabinet Member then stated that a cabinet member working group was proposed as an essential part of delivery of the redesigned service. The public consultation exercise had reassured Cabinet that there was a high level of satisfaction in the existing waste collection service which was largely due to the Ubico team for which he placed his thanks on record. The report would be considered by Council on 12 December.

The Leader added that the consultation was a thorough piece of work and gave the council confidence in pursuing the right option for the town. He very much supported the establishment of the cross party cabinet member working group.

RESOLVED THAT

a)    Option 2a (Option A as shown in 2^nd consultation) with routes optimisation be approved and a recommendation be given to Full Council for formal approval of the associated budget required for implementation

b)    Subject to Full Council approval of the finances to support option 2a, an order be placed for new recycling collection vehicles

c)    A Cabinet Member Working Group be set-up to oversee Phase II (implementation) of the project

d)    the Cabinet Member in consultation with the Cabinet Member Working Group be given delegated authority to approve the additional recyclables to be collected i.e. cartons, textiles, batteries or small waste electricals (WEEE) subject to being within the new service budget