The Panel received a verbal update from the
Head of Environmental and Operational Services on refuse collection
from private drives.
The Head of Environmental and Operational
Services stated the key points of the policy.
·
The purpose of the policy had been to:
-
- set out the official policy of
non-collection of waste from unadopted
roads;
- state exceptions where an indemnity
could have been considered.
- the policy had not been set up to
address existing issues but sought to limit the prevalence of new
ones. The policy sought to support both residents and developers
which clarified the council’s position on waste collections
from private drives.
- indemnities had been utilised for
appropriate exceptions:
- a new development in Holbeach had been facilitated by an indemnity which
had also supported SHDC to undertake safe waste collections;
- a further indemnity had unlocked a
development in Spalding;
- an increase in indemnity requests
had been received. Many requests had not included an appropriate
use of the indemnity and therefore had not progressed;
- further guidance of the appropriate
use of the indemnity was to be published in order to support both
residents and developers.
The officer concluded that the policy had
achieved its objectives and ensured SHDC had safely delivered the
waste collection service.
The Panel considered the update and made the
following comments:
- The Chairman commented that the
further guidance had still been in development.
- The Head of Environmental and
Operational Services confirmed this had been the case. Development
had included input from other council departments which ensured the
best outcome for residents, developers and SHDC as the waste
collection authority.
.
- Members questioned whether the
policy would lead to improvements. A different approach existed
when Planning applications had been considered which included
private drives.
- The Head of Environmental and
Operational Services confirmed that work had taken place with the
Planning department which addressed concerns ahead of the
publication of the further guidance.
- The Chairman commented that the
policy and further guidance from Environmental Services
strengthened the Planning system and curtailed the development of
private drives.
- Members referred to the guidance
which had stated that a limit of six houses be considered/built
where private drives had been unavoidable, however cases beyond
this had occurred. Members sought clarification whether the
guidance limited the collection of waste to a maximum of six
properties on private drives and had developers been informed.
- The Head of Environmental and
Operational Services clarified that the verbal update had related
to the policy which had been adopted a year ago. The point now
raised had related to draft additional guidance produced in
collaboration with Planners and had been in the process of
refinement prior to publication.
- Members asked whether the guidance
would be relevant to existing private drives where planning consent
had been obtained.
- The Head of Environmental and
Operational Services confirmed that indemnities which qualified for
consideration were to be listed in the further guidance document
which would assist applications prior to planning submission.
Indemnities for existing private drives would be considered where
stated exceptions had been evident. Collaboration with Enforcement
colleagues had occurred where long standing issues had
existed.
- Members queried which
individual/body the enforcement action would be taken against, if
the waste collection point had not been maintained.
- The Head of Environmental and
Operational Services replied that the guidance clarified this
matter and that details of the responsible person/company needed to
be obtained.
-
AGREED:
That an update be presented to the
Panel in 6 months.