Issue - meetings

1.

Question from Councillor Andrew Wall to Cabinet Member Sustainability, Councillor Roger Whyborn 

The current garden waste collection service is popular in Battledown and many residents are very disappointed that the Liberal Democrats are scrapping it in January. If the uptake from residents in the Battledown Ward for the new paid for service matches the Council's projections, can the Cabinet member confirm how much income will be raised from the ward each year under the scheme in addition to the Council tax paid?

Response from Cabinet Member Sustainability

At this stage, the council cannot estimate the amount of income raised in each ward under the new scheme. However of the 52,872 households in the Borough some 41,000 receive the garden waste service. Based on take up in other authorities, we are projecting that 20,000 households will sign up to the new service.. It is estimated that the council will generate additional income of £720,000 in 2011/12 from the scheme and new charge. This will offset the additional costs of acquiring new vehicles, bins the operation of the new scheme and help towards maintaining the refuse and recycling service at an affordable, competitive and sustainable cost given the current pressure of council finances and thereby protecting other valued services from significant cuts.

In a supplementary question, Councillor Wall asked how many households in the Battledown Ward currently make use of the garden waste collection service.

The Cabinet Member Sustainability advised that he did not have that information to hand but would ask officers to confirm the figures to Councillor Wall.

2.

Question from Councillor Andrew Wall to Cabinet Member Finance and Community Development, Councillor John Webster

A recent press release from the Council about the scrapping of the garden waste collection service contained the following text:

"It is being withdrawn because it sees those who do not need or cannot receive the service subsidising the cost for those who do."

Can the Cabinet member confirm how this principle is going to be applied to other Council services?

Response from Cabinet Member Finance and Community Development

The majority of council services are available to all residents and they have a choice as to whether they use them. However, some people do not have gardens or the need for the green waste service. 

Given the scale of this service and the fact that it is discretionary, it is not unreasonable to make a charge for it.

In a supplementary question, Councillor Wall did not consider his question had been answered so asked again whether the council was adopting a new principle.

In response the Cabinet Member advised that it was not a new principle. He gave the example of residents using the council’s swimming pool for which they paid, but which is also funded from council revenue.

3.

Question from Councillor Andrew Wall to the Leader of the Council, Councillor Steve Jordan 

Previous Liberal Democrat administrations have been very active is writing to Government  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8