Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest stated.

Apologies were received from Councillor Burgess (Councillor Spence as substitute) Councillor J Cooper (Councillor Holland as substitute) and Councillor P. Hailstones.. 

Resolved:                 That the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2016 be agreed as a correct record.

To scrutinise the Independent Review of the implementation of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Councils New Recycling and Waste Collection Service on 4 July 2016 report October 2016 by Howard Davies MA (Cantab), C.Eng, MICE and make recommendations to Cabinet.

Members scrutinised the report of the Independent Review of the Implementation of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Councils New Recycling and Waste Collection Service on 4 July 2016 by Howard Davies MA (Cantab), C.Eng, MICE, completed in October 2016.

Members referenced the Action Plan in order to address the recommendations and learning points set out in the report.  Recommendations from the scrutiny committee will be reported to Cabinet.

Members supported the recommendation for a better approach to pre-trialling new vehicles, scrutiny members had received complaints relating to the use of vehicles of an inappropriate size for some areas. 

Missed collections were highlighted by scrutiny members and they supported the recommendations in the report alongside refining reporting procedures and requests for assisted collections.  Members agreed that a clear, centrally operated policy relating to kerbside collection which was communicated to all residents would have helped smooth the pathway for implementation of the new service.

A member asked about the additional costs to the Borough due to the increase in the number of recycling collections and considered that the Review was not sufficiently critical in its analysis, particularly of the role of the current administration in the perceived failure of the new system.

In this respect the Review concluded that the increased volume (approx. 25%) of recyclable material had not been anticipated and had resulted in some of the operational aspects becoming overstretched.

The need for better “in day” handling of material was addressed in the report and supported by Scrutiny members. Members also supported the recommendation for a better approach to pre-trialling new vehicles; members had received complaints resulting from the use of inappropriate sized vehicles.   .

Members of the scrutiny committee moved on to look at the future operation of the scheme, including whether trolleys could be provided on request (at a potential additional cost) and whether the further household separation of glass/cardboard should be pursued. 

The need for more effective use of existing data bases together with additional staff training was highlighted.  Also the reintroduction of “missed bins” as a Key Performance Indicator and a more comprehensive approach to communications were endorsed by scrutiny members.

All of the recommendations in the report had a timeline for implementation and members of this scrutiny committee anticipated a future role in scrutinizing performance against the recommendations.

Agreed          That the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee be reported to Cabinet.

Any member of the public wishing to submit a question must serve two clear days’ notice, in writing, of any such question to the Borough Council.

There were no members of the public present at the meeting.

There were no items of Urgent Business.