Issue - meetings

To consider the introduction of a paid for ‘opt in’ garden waste collection service during 2010/11.

PLEASE NOTE - This amended report replaces the version that was circulated as part of the main agenda pack

(Report attached)

RECOMMENDED that:

1)         the Council introduce a pilot chargeable ‘opt-in’ garden waste collection service in targeted areas of the Borough during the first half of 2010;

2)         depending on the outcomes and evaluation of the pilot, includingfinancial implications, the effect on performance, publicity requirements, administration and environmental and operational impacts, the service be rolled out across the Borough during 2011/12;

3)         the pilot be carried out in the areas identified in the business case and that decisions on any additions or amendments to these areas be delegated to the Head of Environment in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Local Environment and Health;

4)         the service standard for the collection of garden waste (Appendix B to the report to the Committee) be adopted;

5)         the preferred option for the service, Option Two at  a customer charge of £35.00 as detailed in the Business Case at Appendix A to the report to the Committee, be agreed;

6)         bins be provided free of charge;

7)         the Council’s current collection policy relating to garden waste in grey bins be amended to coincide with the start of the new service to discourage garden waste being placed in grey bins;

8)         the Council’s current collection policy relating to the sale of orange sacks continue unaffected in the pilot areas but that residents purchasing orange sacks who live in the pilot areas will be provided with information about the new service, home composting and what happens to waste disposed of in orange sacks;

9)         the orange sack policy be further considered as part of the evaluation of the pilot and the update report to Members; and

RESOLVED that

10)      an update report on the pilot service and recommendations for the roll out or cessation of the service be brought back to a future meeting of this Committee during 2010/11.

Following the discussions that had taken place at the meeting on 18th November and the inability of the Committee to agree any definitive recommendations on the matter, Members considered an updated report from Officers that addressed the concerns that had been raised previously.

With regard to the means to be employed to discourage the placing of garden waste in grey bins, the Committee was advised that a similar approach would be used to that in existence during the early weeks of the Alternate Weekly Collection. The emphasis would be very much on education of residents and the promotion of composting and recycling. It was made clear that the promotion campaign would cover the entire Borough and not simply the pilot area for the garden waste collection service.

RECOMMENDED that:

1)         the Council introduces a pilot chargeable ‘opt-in’ garden waste collection service in targeted areas of the Borough during the first half of 2010;

2)         depending on the outcomes and evaluation of the pilot, includingfinancial implications, the effect on performance, publicity requirements, administration and environmental and operational impacts, the service be rolled out across the Borough during 2011/12;

3)         the pilot be carried out in the areas identified in the business case and that any additions or amendments to these areas be delegated to the Head of Environment in Consultation with the Leader and the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Local Environment and Health;

4)         the service standard for the collection of garden waste (Appendix B to the report to the Committee) be adopted;

5)         the preferred option for the service, Option Two at  a customer charge of £35.00 as detailed in the Business Case at Appendix A to the report to the Committee, be agreed;

6)         bins be provided free of charge;

7)         the Council’s current collection policy relating to garden waste in grey bins be amended to coincide with the start of the new service to discourage garden waste being placed in grey bins;

8)         the Council’s current collection policy relating to the sale of orange sacks continues unaffected in the pilot areas but that residents purchasing orange sacks who live in the pilot areas will be provided with information about the new service, home composting and what happens to waste disposed of in orange sacks;

9)         that the orange sack policy be further considered as part of the evaluation of the pilot and the update report to Members; and

RESOLVED that

10)      an update report on the pilot service and recommendations for the roll out or cessation of the service be brought back to a future meeting of this Committee during 2010/11.