Issue - meetings

Forward Plan item scheduled for Cabinet 24 November 2016.

The Chairman of the group explained that the Council had commissioned Ricardo Energy & Environment Consultants to undertake a full review of the waste collection service. Their task was to assess the current provision and advise on the way forward suggesting how a high-quality service could be maintained and how financial efficiencies could be generated with a particular focus on increasing recycling rates. Ricardo worked with Members in a series of seminars to develop with them an agreed vision for the Waste & Recycling Service and recommended that the Alternate Weekly Collection of waste, similar to schemes operated successfully in Chichester and Mid Sussex District areas and in over 75% of other local authorities, should be the service model proposed to Cabinet for the district.

The Chairman surmised the participation that the group had already had in the preparation of the decision and asked Members for final views before Cabinet would make the decision on 24 November 2016.

Members discussed:

·         The exceptions policy

·         That there still would be a weekly visit to each household to collect either recycling or residual waste

·         Whether there was a requirement to consult with residents

·         Approaches at other councils in Sussex and further afield

·         The European Commissions’ Waste Framework Directive

·         The need for more advice and guidance for residents, especially on plastics, and whether that could be moved forward in the timetable

·         That the in-house approach to service delivery at Horsham offered flexibility rather than the standardisation offered by private sector contractors

In response, Officers clarified that there was no requirement to consult with residents but that the group had stressed the importance of properly resourcing the communications strategy, preparation and transition work to ensure disruption to residents was minimised. Members would hear more about the education and advice ‘door stepping’ work at the next meeting of the group.

The general support of the group was received by the Chairman for the proposal to move to AWC and to procure REL vehicles.

Forward Plan Key Decision scheduled for Cabinet on 24 November 2016.

At the invitation of the Chairman, the Director of Community Services presented to the group. The group heard that, in addition to the two policy development advisory group meetings already held, three all-member seminars had also been held and that there had been broad member support for the vision and principles underpinning the delivery of the waste service going forward. Long-list options had been considered and a detailed short-list including financial and viability modelling had been prepared. 

The presentation outlined:

·         The option that offered significant savings and an improved rate of recycling

·         Implementation, including a phased roll-out, in Spring 2018

·         Operational matters, including optimisation of rounds and vehicles

·         An exceptions policy and criteria

·         Procurement considerations, including fleet.

The group discussed:

·         The comparative national picture of councils’ approach to waste and recycling

·         Behaviour change, including ongoing engagement with service users

·         Simplification of recycling messages in areas of high contamination

·         Human resource implications

The policy development advisory group would meet again prior to cabinet considering the matter, and making a decision on 24 November 2016.

Presentation from the Director of Community Services and Head of Waste, Recycling, Street Scene & Fleet Services.

The Director of Community Services and the Head of Waste, Street Scene & Fleet presented to the group. Members noted that a waste services review had been ongoing for nearly one year and that the findings of the review could now be considered. An all-member seminar had been scheduled for 4 July.

The presentation outlined:

·         The modelling of four options for future waste collection services

·         Consideration of the existing method of collection, including the manpower, financial resource requirements, vehicle type, depreciation, route optimisation, disposal sites and turnaround times

·         Industry waste standards and recycling targets

·         Budget requirements for each of the 4 options considered for the future

Members discussed with officers:

·         The cost of alternative options

·         Disposal and recycling sites

·         Recycling contamination rates and encouraging behaviour change

·         The potential impact of food recycling in the future

·         The comparative cost of leasing or purchasing vehicles

·         Comparative fuel efficiency considerations

·         Outsourcing considerations

·         That maintenance of the current method of waste collection required budget growth

·         That one of the options being considered offered a substantial saving to the council

Officers explained that Horsham had the highest recycling rate in Sussex at 45%, and that there was a target to recycle 50% of waste by 2020 which could be achieved as a consequence of the review.