To receive questions from Members of the Council to the relevant Portfolio Holders for this Scrutiny Committee. The Portfolio Holders are:
Councillor Bialyk – Leader of the Council
Councillor Asvachin – Housing, Homelessness Prevention & Customer Services
Councillor Vizard – Climate, Ecological Change and Communities
Councillor Williams – Place and City Management
Councillor Wright – Corporate Services and City Centre
Advance questions from Members relating to the Portfolio Holders should be notified to Democratic Services via committee.services@exeter.gov.uk
Minutes:
There were no questions submitted in advance from Members.
In accordance with Standing Order No. 20 the following questions were asked of Portfolio Holders who were present.
Councillor Read asked the Portfolio Holder for City Management what action could be taken with regard to green algae which was not dangerous to dogs but could distress fish. Councillor Ruth Williams responded stating that the public could be reassured and it would be for the Environment Agency to undertake any mitigation.
In a supplementary question Councillor Read asked if the Portfolio Holder would push the Environment Agency as their response showed that they did not intend to take any action. The Portfolio Holder requested sight of the response from the Environment Agency.
Councillor Parkhouse asked the Portfolio Holder for City Management if there had been any challenges with the roll out of food waste collections particularly in more densely populated areas and HMOs. Councillor R Williams responded stating that the roll out was going well with over 50% of homes now having a food waste collection. It had been identified that annual dissemination of information regarding collections would be needed to areas such as those with a student population or a higher turnover of residents and that some blocks of flats may require alternative solutions.
The Chair asked if it would be helpful for information to be shared in community groups which Members may be involved in and Councillor R Williams responded that it would and that food and garden waste collections were earlier than refuse and recycling collections and that fluorescent stickers had been provided for food waste bins to make them more visible. She also stated that crews would come back if a food waste bin was missed and that this could reported immediately it was missed, there was no need to wait until the end of the day. Finally, the Portfolio Holder suggested that residents are encouraged to follow Denis the Dustcart for further tips but stressed that vape batteries must not be put in bins given a recent fire in a waste lorry within the city.
Councillor Moore asked the Portfolio Holder for City Management whether the food waste roll-out would be complete this year and Councillor Ruth Williams responded that the planned end was 2025/26 but it may be that this would stretch into 2026/27.
Councillor Moore asked the Portfolio Holder for City Management what preparation was taking place for doorstep glass collection roll-out and Councillor Ruth Williams responded that there were no plans at present as there was not funding. She added that were there to be funding for extra crews and vehicles then this would be considered and that current arrangements were doing well compared to other Devon districts and black bin comparisons were comparable to others who had doorstep glass collection.
Councillor Read asked the Portfolio Holder for Climate, Ecological Change and Communities about the wording being provided to Gatherwell regarding Exeter Community Lottery. Councillor Vizard, as Portfolio Holder stated that the wording had been agreed but invited Councillor Read to send concerns to him and he would follow up.
Councillor Moore asked the Portfolio Holder for Climate, Ecological Change and Communities if the wording regarding the Community Lottery could be changed in council press releases and the Portfolio Holder responded that he would look into this but that the wording was in line with national policy and that he did not wish to over-complicate the message.
The Chair asked the Portfolio Holder for Climate, Ecological Change and Communities if there was a way in which amendments to the council website could be more agile and the Portfolio Holder responded that there was a link to the Council website from the Gatherwell and the agreed wording would apply to both but some timescales were beyond the Council’s control.