Agenda and minutes

(Where a Councillor has a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest the Councillor must declare the interest to the meeting and leave the room without participating in any discussion or making a statement on the item, except where a Councillor is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of dispensation.)

There were none.

To approve changes to the delivery model for waste services across the district (report of the Director of Communities enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Communities which sought approval of changes to the delivery model for waste services across the district.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate, Governance, Communications and Environmental Services presented the report:

• Acknowledged that this would likely be most significant change to this Authority during its 51-year lifetime.

• Addressed the consultation, not a vote or referendum, that took place in 2024, which covered a wide range of issues on the future of waste collection across South Holland:
  • 51% stated that they preferred sacks over 49% preferring wheeled bins.
  • 52% agreed with a commitment to collect food waste every week, an alternate weekly rubbish and recycling service and collecting no extra waste while 48% did not agree.
  • 79% agreed that increasing the type and amount of recycling was important to them versus 21% who stated that this was not important to them.
  • 52% agreed that an improved service and food waste collected every week would encourage them to recycle more, versus 48% who did not agree.

• The Environment Act 2021 introduced a waste reform programme across England with simpler recycling a central pillar to this. This required collections to separate paper and card from other recyclables along with a weekly food waste collection. The new Extended Producer Responsibility for producers to improve recyclability of their packages would provide funding to authorities but this would be reduced if recycling performance fell below an as yet undetermined level.

• Thirteen options had originally been considered but this needed to be reduced. All options that did not meet legislative requirements had been subsequently discounted, along with those that would have created a complex collection regime, leaving three viable options to be considered by Cabinet:
  • Option C – this had been discounted due to the need to run additional vehicles within the fleet.
  • Option A – this had been the original preferred option, with 180l bins. However, following member feedback, the 180l bin was deemed to be insufficient for residents given the current waste collection service allowed for unlimited waste.
  • Option B – this was the preferred option, providing 240l bins. It is projected to deliver an average saving of £514k saving compared to the projected average cost of the current service but required an additional £189.5k capital and £20.5k revenue budget in comparison to option A.

• Option B provided an invest to save opportunity and would create benefits:
  • Required fewer vehicles and provided capacity for future housing development.
  • Positive impact on the amount and quality of recycling.
  • Positive impact on health and wellbeing of the workforce.
  • More reliable collection regime
  • Positive impact on climate change and environment.

• Suitability assessments would be required for properties that may not be suitable for wheeled bins and would need to remain on a bagged collection.

• A project board would have oversight of the delivery of the new wheeled bin collection service, along with policies being considered by Policy Development Panel before formal approval.

• Assured residents and the Cabinet that all feedback had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.