Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Newman.

Annual Council agreed the following meeting dates of the Waste, Recycling and Cleansing Policy Development Advisory Group: 30/6/16, 29/9/16, 1/12/16, 19/1/17, 23/3/17 and 18/5/17. The group is asked to agree the timing of forthcoming meetings.

The group agreed that the start time of forthcoming meetings of the group would be 17:30.

Councillor Cornell will provide an introduction.

Councillor Cornell welcomed members and gave a short introduction.

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.

Forward plan item. Scheduled for Cabinet decision on 21 July 2016. Verbal update.

The Head of Waste, Street Scene & Fleet explained how waste was collected from isolated and those with secure entry system properties. The group heard that a review had been undertaken and that a Cabinet decision was required on whether to make changes to how waste was collected from a specific number of properties. A Councillor had been on a site visit with the Service Manager and had a view about the potential impact upon different age groups, and the capability level of some residents that might be affected by a change to collection methods. Officers asked members to note that an assisted collection service was still to be offered to those residents that met criteria.

Members attention was also drawn to the forthcoming Cabinet report, which would focus on the small number of properties across the district as noted on the Forward Plan.

To note the Forward Plan extract (if any) for the Waste, Recycling and Cleansing Portfolio.

Members noted that the location of the Forward Plan on the council website had changed at that synchronisation between matters going to Cabinet for decision and the advisory group was expected. The waste services review would be a Cabinet decision and notice of which would be placed on the Forward Plan.