Agenda item

a)    That the Executive agrees that the service changes described in 3.2 c) of the report relating to the three-weekly collection of separated paper and cardboard predominantly in bins and the three weekly collection of the remaining dry mixed recycling (A 3,3,3 cycle as described in Appendix 3) be implemented as part of the new waste recycling and street cleansing contract which commences in 2025, the implementation date confirmation shall be delegated to the Head of Operations in consultation with Project Board, but shall be within four months of contract commencement.

b)   That the Executive agrees that in the event that the Council is required to make a decision to provide fortnightly collection of residual waste that the dry recycling service shall be fully commingled.

c)    That the Executive agrees to the service changes described in 3.2 d) of the report relating to the removal of the requirement for a continuous street cleansing presence in town centres and moving the back to standard time to 9am be implemented as part of the new waste recycling and street cleansing contract in 2025.

d)  That the Executive agrees to the service changes described in 3.2 e) relating to a removal of approximately 30% of litter bins from predominantly outside the town centres be implemented as part of the new waste recycling and street cleansing contract in 2025.

e)    That the Executive agrees to the service changes described in 3.2 f) relating to a change to an input specification for high-speed road cleansing to once per year be implemented as part of the new waste recycling and street cleansing contract in 2025.

f)     That the Executive agrees to the service changes described in 3.2 h) relating to an extension of the bin delivery/repair Service Level Agreement (SLA) from 5 days to 9 days being implemented as part of the new waste recycling and street cleansing contract in 2025.

g)    That the Executive agrees to the service changes described in 3.2 i) relating to an extension of the missed bin rectification SLA from 5pm the next working day to 72 hours except for missed whole streets which will remain 5pm the next working day, being implemented as part of the new waste recycling and street cleansing contract in 2025.

h)   That the Executive agrees to the service changes described in 3.2 j) relating to a change in street cleansing SLAs being implemented as part of the new waste recycling and street cleansing contract in 2025.

i)      That the Executive agrees to the service changes described in 3.2 k) relating to reducing the number of items collected as part of bulky waste services from six to three being implemented as part of the new waste recycling and street cleansing contract in 2025.

The Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability presented the waste, recycling and street cleansing service design report. He said that the waste service represented the largest spend for the council and it was a high-profile service and impacted on residents every week.

The Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability said that the Executive agreed the service design in October 2022 along with the new aims and principles of the shared service. Competitive dialogue was ongoing and had allowed officers to explore service design options. He said that the proposals had been presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in November and their comments were presented at Appendix B.

The Executive Member for Environmental Sustainability said that Officers and himself were confident that the changes to the contract would provide high performing services with greater opportunities for recycling. He said that a final decision was required to progress the procurement and time scales were tight with a decision needed so not to delay the implementation for a further three months.

Councillor Hoskin proposed that the recommendations in the report be supported. Councillor Brittain seconded the proposal.

Councillor Crystall recognised the hard work from officers and said this project had been years in the making and thanked them for their work.

Councillor Brittain said that the Executive had heard previously that 2025/26 was going to be a challenging year for the budget and said it was key that the waste service was affordable and that the recommendations were a good step forward.

Councillor Daar referred to the consultation carried out under the previous administration. She said she was impressed that there was such high support for recycling and that 78% of respondents wanted to recycle more.

Councillor Goldspink said she supported the proposals and felt it would be excellent in encouraging recycling.

Councillor Hoskin said that the contract would be in place by May 2025 and said that between now and then there would be  a huge amount of work to do to communicate the details to residents. He said the contract was a huge step forward and collecting food waste alone had a huge impact on the carbon footprint.

Councillor Glover-Ward noted that food waste would be collected weekly. She said that residents were often unhappy with fortnightly residual waste collections in the summer and the weekly food waste collections would provide a better service to residents.

Councillor Dumont asked what reassurances Members could give residents about what service levels would look like and what they could expect.

Councillor Hoskin said the new contract had been designed to improve services and the set standards in the contract would not erode standards but would give operational flexibility to use vehicles and staff more efficiently. He said that the bidders for the contract have agreed that the changes would encourage savings and efficiencies.

The Waste, Recycling and Street Cleaning Manager reassured Members that during the mobilisation of the contract, there had been agreement for additional contract monitoring resources. She said the client team would be ensuring that the contract was running effectively and smoothly and would be keen to hear from Members and residents to work on areas that needed improving.

Councillor McAndrew asked if food waste would be introduced after the implementation of the new contract.

Councillor Hoskin said that was correct and the detail of how and when it would be introduced would be part of the implementation process. He said the current priority was to get a successful bid.

Councillor McAndrew referred to the new government legislation on collecting food waste. Councillor Hoskin said that the government had indicated that it would be a requirement to collect food waste separately from March 2026.

Councillor McAndrew asked if any progress had been made on recruiting full time staff instead of relying on agency workers.

Councillor Hoskin said that the council did not directly employ staff for the waste service and the successful bidder would put their employment structures in place. He said if the council started dictating what it wanted, there would be increased costs and could impose risks on the contact.

The Waste, Recycling and Street Cleaning Manager reassured Members that a large proportion of the contract evaluation was linked to social value and one element of that was employing staff from the local area.

Councillor McAndrew asked if there would be round optimisation across both the districts.

The Waste, Recycling and Street Cleaning Manager said that all bidders intended to work across the boundary.

Councillor Crystall proposed and Councillor Glover-Ward seconded, a motion that pursuant to Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the business referred to in Appendix 2 on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act.

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, the motion was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – that pursuant to Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the business referred to in Appendix B on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act.

Full details in the restricted minutes.

The motion to support the recommendation having been proposed and seconded was put to the meeting and upon a vote being taken, was declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED – That (A) the Executive agrees that the service changes described in 3.2 c) of the report relating to the three-weekly collection of separated paper and cardboard predominantly in bins and the three weekly collection of the remaining dry mixed recycling (A 3,3,3 cycle as described in Appendix 3) be implemented as part of the new waste recycling and street cleansing contract which commences in 2025, the implementation date confirmation shall be delegated to the Head of Operations in consultation with Project Board, but shall be within four months of contract commencement;

(B)       the Executive agrees that in the event that the Council is required to make a decision to provide fortnightly collection of residual waste that the dry recycling service shall be fully commingled;

(C)       the Executive agrees to the service changes described in 3.2 d) of the report relating to the removal of the requirement for a continuous street cleansing presence in town centres and moving the back to standard time to 9am be implemented as part of the new waste recycling and street cleansing contract in 2025;

(D)      the Executive agrees to the service changes described in 3.2 e) relating to a removal of approximately 30% of litter bins from predominantly outside the town centres be implemented as part of the new waste recycling and street cleansing contract in 2025;

(E)       the Executive agrees to the service changes described in 3.2 f) relating to a change to an input specification for high-speed road cleansing to once per year be implemented as part of the new waste recycling and street cleansing contract in 2025;

(F)        the Executive agrees to the service changes described in 3.2 h) relating to an extension of the bin delivery/repair Service Level Agreement (SLA) from 5 days to 9 days being implemented as part of the new waste recycling and street cleansing contract in 2025;

(G)      the Executive agrees to the service changes described in 3.2 i) relating to an extension of the missed bin rectification SLA from 5pm the next working day to 72 hours except for missed whole streets which will remain 5pm the next working day, being implemented as part of the new waste recycling and street cleansing contract in 2025;

(H)      the Executive agrees to the service changes described in 3.2 j) relating to a change in street cleansing SLAs being implemented as part of the new waste recycling and street cleansing contract in 2025; and

(I)          the Executive agrees to the service changes described in 3.2 k) relating to reducing the number of items collected as part of bulky waste services from six to three being implemented as part of the new waste recycling and street cleansing contract in 2025.