Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Cleansing and Fleet Manager.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at its meeting on 21 January 2015 and its comments will be reported.

The report of the Cleansing and Fleet Manager was submitted seeking to consolidate into one document a number of existing policies relating to domestic waste collection and supply of waste containers. It also sought approval for a revised policy on charging for domestic waste containers to provide a simpler and harmonised charging structure.

A Member raised his objections to this policy and was of the view that having a flat rate for all households for the purchase of bins in those areas where bins were compulsory was unfair to less well off households. It was in effect a new tax.  

In response to Members’ queries, the Cleansing and Fleet Manager clarified:-

·         the charge for the grey bins covered the cost of the bin together with the  supply and delivery;

·         there were still some areas of the city where the use of wheelie bins were not suitable and, in these areas residents, would not be expected to use the bins;

·         it was expected, that in the case of Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMO’s), it would be the landlords responsibility to provide the wheelie bins;

·         the Cleansing Department would work with Private Sector Housing regarding whose responsibility the purchase of the bins were in private rented properties; and

·         waste operation Supervisors had the capacity to issue enforcement notices under Section 46 of the Environmental Health Act 1990 this action would only be taken as a last resort.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Wellbeing commented that the charges for the grey bins would cover costs including delivery and the green bins were in effect subsided by council tax. He confirmed that the introduction of the policy would be monitored and reviewed.

Scrutiny Committee – Community considered the report at its meeting on 21 January 2015 and the support and comments of the Members were noted.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)          the consolidated waste collection policies in Appendix 4 be approved;

(2)          the proposed list of exemptions from charges for domestic waste containers (Appendix 3) be adopted with effect from 1 February 2015; and

(3)          the Council more robustly follow an escalation process leading to the use of Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to require residents to purchase or provide domestic waste containers to the required specification.

(In accordance with Standing Order no.43, Councillor Fullam requested that his voting against this recommendation be recorded)

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Environment.

The Cleansing and Fleet Manager presented the report seeking to consolidate into one document a number of existing policies relating to domestic waste collection and the supply of waste containers. It also sought approval for a revised policy on charging for domestic waste containers to provide a simpler and harmonised charging structure.

Members were advised that there was no charge placed on the provision of seagull resistant sacks and that, although previous legal advice given was that it was not possible to require developers to provide bins with new houses as part of legal agreements with planning approval, there was scope to work collaboratively with developers to assist new home-owners in making arrangements for bin provision.

It was also noted that charges for bins reflected the cost of supply and provision and that waste operation Supervisors had the capacity to issue enforcement notices under Section 46 of the Environmental Health Act 1990.

Scrutiny Committee - Community noted the report and recommended Executive to:-

(1)        approve the consolidated waste collection polices, as set out in Appendix 4 of the report; 

(2)        approve the proposed list of exemptions of charges for domestic waste containers, as set out in Appendix 3 of the report, to be adopted with effect from 1 February 2015; and

(3)        agree that the City Council follow more robustly an escalation process leading to the use of Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 requiring residents to purchase or provide domestic waste containers to the required specification.