Agenda item

Objective: To consider the annual performance report, examining if there are any emerging trends or issues.

UBICO representatives– Rob Heath (Director of Operations UBICO), Marvyn Langston (Head of Operations UBICO)

Councillor Izaac Tailford, Cabinet Member for Waste, Recycling Cabinet Member for Waste, Recycling and Public Realm

Karen Watson (Environmental Partnerships Manager)

The Head of Operations for UBICO introduced the report as published.  He highlighted a number of initiatives successfully introduced during the year that have decreased accidents, improved reporting using in-cab evidence gathering, helped to reduce the carbon footprint and improved efficiency.  He noted that the year had seen slight reductions in general waste and increased garden waste  volumes..

The questions that were submitted in advance of the meeting and the answers to those questions have been published previously please see Member Questions and Answers.

The response to additional Members’ questions were as follows:

-       The issue identified with the double counting of food caddies has led to no overcharging to the Council.

-       There has been a large increase in sickness absence across both UBICO and the industry as a whole, possibly due to the increased ease in securing sick notes.  A Head of People has been employed and is working closely with HR to help those who are on long-term sick leave return to work or identify those whose positions will need to be filled.

-       The Cabinet Member for Waste, Recycling and Public Realm and Environmental Partnerships Manager will be working with the Enforcement Team to understand the data behind the significant increase in fly tipping requests.  They will consider whether there has been any impact due to the reduced hours of the Swindon Road Recycling Centre but noted that the increase is also likely to reflect that people have been encouraged to report fly tipping issues and a duplication of reporting on individual cases.

-       The underspend in the report represents the 2023-2024 budget not the current year  Conversations are still ongoing on the budget for the next financial year and will consider what can be allocated to UBICO through their contract to allow backfilling of absences through agency staff to allow them to meet their service responsibilities whilst also reflecting the £500k savings target identified.

-       The existing diesel fleet have had their engines updated to run on hydrogen treated vegetable oil, these vehicles will be replaced in line with the 7 year lifespan of fleet vehicles.  The fleet currently also includes 3 electric vehicles.  Industry statistics suggest that the use of electric vehicles should lead to lower running, repair and maintenance costs but as early adopters CBC currently do not have the figures to confirm this information.

-       Issues have been identified with colleague retention with an average staff turnover of 6 years across UBICO.  This is sometimes exacerbated by training requirements, for example HGV drivers need to renew their training every 5 years and those approaching retirement are choosing not to leading to a shortage in drivers.  Difficulties in recruiting have been identified particularly for workshop technicians and mechanics, and for grounds maintenance.  UBICO have been successfully offering apprenticeships for the technician and mechanic roles with 5 currently running but have had low interest in grounds maintenance apprenticeships. They are discussing a potential partnership approach to this issue with Hartpury College and the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester.  They are continuing to develop a response to the challenges with the Head of People and will consider the potential to use competency matrixes to allow progression outside of the traditional management structure.