Agenda and minutes

To receive Declarations of Interest, from Members, on items contained within this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest stated.

The aim of the Recycling and Waste Strategy Cabinet Panel is to review the current recycling and waste service; and to investigate, discuss and develop recommendations for the direction and structure of the recycling and waste service post 2016 for 7-14 years.

Members considered the aim of the Panel which was confirmed as: -

The aim of the Recycling and Waste Strategy Cabinet Panel is to review the current recycling and waste service; and to investigate, discuss and develop recommendations for the direction and structure of the recycling and waste service post 2016 for 7-14 years.

Resolved:-              That the information be received.

To discuss and agree the Terms of Reference.

It was agreed that The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling will continue to be the Chair of the Cabinet Panel and the rules of political proportionality will apply

The following rules will also apply to the Panel:

·       The Panel membership will reflect the make-up of the wider Council, and if possible the same Member will remain on the Panel for the whole period.

·       The quorum for the meeting will be one quarter of the members, with a minimum of three.

·       An agenda and reports will be sent to members at least 5 clear days in advance of each meeting.

·       Minutes of each meeting will be produced and published as per other formal Council meetings.

·       Decisions will be formally recorded and subject to the same call-in procedure as other committees.

·       The Panel will report to Cabinet and may refer matters to the relevant scrutiny committee for comment

·       Panels will be time limited and terminated upon reporting unless their brief is extended by Cabinet.

Due to the nature and timing of decisions for this project, authority has been delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Recycling to make decisions in relation to the following areas:

·       To develop and agree the detail of the service and monitor progress of key tasks to be undertaken in the run up to the new service commencement.

·       The specification and procurement of vehicles.

·       Treatment methods.

·       Depot infrastructure.

·       Containers.

·       Material resale.

·       Collection schedules.

·       Working patterns.

·       Expansion of the range of materials collected.

Resolved:-   That the information be received.

To review the Project Plan

Members were provided with a detail project plan and each element of the plan was discussed. The plan would be used to highlight where Member involvement was required for decision making and for monitoring the progress of the complete project.

General areas of discussion were as follows:-

·       Transfer of staff from contracts – discussion regarding the terms and conditions that the transferred staff will have.

·       Works required at Knutton Lane depot – discussion about the work required and why, Members also agreed that the Panel should hold a future meeting on site to discuss the changes.

·       Service standards and policies – discussion about current service standards including bin size and collection points. The Panel supported the officers recommendation that all current policies be  maintained and that the Panel would review policies where necessary during the process.

·       Service Communication – during the lead up to the service change a comprehensive communications package would be developed with the Panels involvement and that Members of the Panel would become the Councils recycling champions in promoting the benefits of the new service to residents.

Resolved:-              That the information be received.

To discuss WRAP support.

The Panel was provided with an outline of the assistance that WRAP have agreed to provide the Council  with, this included:-

·       Testing the service modelling – looking at the vehicle and staffing requirements.

·        Supporting Officers with the design of the sorting and transfer station infrastructure.

·        Providing the Council with £26,000 funding to look at increasing food waste totals, via bin stickers or provision of liners.

Resolved:-              That the information be received.

Members requested that the Panel membership list be updated.

Resolved:-               That the membership list be updated