Issue - meetings

To promote a Pilot Garden Waste Collection Scheme, based upon the business case set out in Appendix A, in alignment with the Councils corporate objectives to provide services that are accessible; responsive to need; commercially secure; and in line with the Councils transformation programme.  (Report of the Portfolio Holder for Place and the Executive Director Place enclosed.)

Consideration was given to the joint report of the Portfolio Holder for Place and the Executive Director Place which sought approval to make recommendations to full Council in order to promote a Pilot Garden Waste Collection Scheme.  The proposals were based upon the business case set out in Appendix A within the report, in alignment with the Councils’ corporate objectives to provide services that were accessible; responsive to need; commercially secure; and in line with the Councils transformation programme.

Councillor Gambba-Jones advised that the report required a Cabinet decision, rather than a recommendation to full Council.  The budget figures at recommendations 11 and 12 were not initially thought to be within the Budget, which was why the report referred to a need for Council approval.  It was now apparent that the budget had already been allocated, so the decision fell within the Cabinet’s terms of reference rather than the Council’s.

Councillor Coupland requested an explanation as to the subscription discount.  The Environmental Services Manager explained that the one-off initial charge (covering various matters such as delivery of the wheelie bin) had been set at £15 initially in order to motivate customers to join the scheme prior to implementation.  Following implementation the delivery charge would be increased to £20.

The Leader requested that, as part of the scheme’s evaluation, the impact of wheelie bins on the street scene and in terms of the public perception also be taken into account.  

Councillor B Alcock queried who would decide whether or not a property was suitable to receive a wheelie bin, as he had concerns about the storage of bins and the issues in relation to the street scene in particular areas.  He referred to the potential risk in terms of the general demand to change from bags to wheelie bins as a result of the scheme.  Councillor Alcock also queried where the cost of the disposal featured.

The Environmental Services Manager advised that the garden waste would be taken to the Organic Recycling plant in Crowland and that the gate fee would be paid by Lincolnshire county Council.

Councillor Gambba-Jones stated that the intention was that a member of the Environmental Services Team would visit the customer’s property in order to determine whether or not it was suitable to be part of the scheme.  For example, there were options for terraced properties where wheelie bins could be stored in the side alleys and collection could be arranged directly from their storage location so that the bins did not cause blockages on the pavements. 

Councillor Gambba-Jones explained that wheelie bins had been used by business operating commercially within the district for many years and therefore that the scheme was being operated as a commercially viable service.  The Leader advised that there would be no conversion to wheelie bin collections for domestic refuse, and that weekly black bag collections would continue.  

The Environmental Services Manager advised that a list of do’s and don’ts would be provided to customers joining the scheme.  She added  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24