Agenda item

Report from Cabinet meeting on 14 December 2021

To consider recommendations of the Cabinet in respect of:

 

a)    Garden Waste Scheme Update – To provide an update on the garden waste scheme and consider future options (Cabinet minute 27) (Cabinet agenda item 7);

 

b)    Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2022/23 – To seek Cabinet decision on the final proposals for the 2022/23 Local Council Tax Support scheme, to be presented to Council for approval on 19 January 2022 (Cabinet minute 32) (Cabinet agenda item 12);

 

c)    21/22 Financial Report Quarter 2 – To provide information on the Quarter 2 (to 30 September 2021) financial position of the Council (Cabinet minute 33) (Cabinet agenda item 13)

 

(report of the Cabinet enclosed).

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the report of Cabinet which sought approval for the Cabinet’s recommendations:

 

a)    Garden Waste Scheme Update

 

The report was presented to the Council by the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services.

 

·         Members understood that the purple sack scheme was to be phased out – would those that had already bought some be able to continue to use them up?

  • The Portfolio Holder confirmed that if they had already been paid for, customers would be able to benefit from them until their supply was exhausted.  However, people were being asked to take advantage of the service being provided now, and that the brown bins would be more convenient than the purple sacks.

 

·         Members commented that not everybody who wanted to join the brown bin scheme would be able to.  In rural communities, the scheme was not commercially viable – if currently using purple sacks, would people be able to continue to use them?

  • The Portfolio Holder responded that the purple sacks scheme had always been an anomaly, and in addition, it was becoming increasingly unacceptable to put green waste into the residual system.  It would take some time to roll out the brown bin scheme and to look at individual cases however, it was acknowledged that some people would not be able to use the scheme they were currently using.
  • The Head of Environmental and Operational Services reiterated that the report confirmed that as a result of the Environment Act 2021, garden waste had to be collected separately and composted.  Those who had purchased purple sacks recently would be contacted and made aware of the change, and alternative options available to them.

 

DECISION:

 

1)    That the current establishment is increased by 3 full time posts, a full-time supervisor, full-time garden waste HGV driver and full-time garden waste loader and that the costs for these posts be funded from the income generated by the scheme;

 

2)    That, should the review of terms and conditions of the garden waste scheme prove it necessary, a consultation with staff commence to consider changing start times for garden waste crews to 6am; and

 

3)    That delegated authority be given to the Head of Environmental and Operational Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder of Environmental Services, to implement the outcome of that consultation.

 

b)    Local Council Tax Support Scheme 2022/23

 

The report was presented to the Council by the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercialisation and Partnerships.

 

DECISION:

 

1)    The continuation of the current Local Council Tax Support scheme, including uprating in line with DWP’s annual update of allowances and premiums for housing benefit for 2022/23;

 

2)    The introduction of a provision in the scheme for discretion to disregard national schemes introduced during a financial year in the calculation of Council Tax Support; and

 

3)    Delegation to the Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Development) and S151 Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Partnerships and Commercialisation, to approve the final 2022/23 scheme in line with this report, and any administrative and minor changes

c)    2021/22 Financial Report Quarter 2

 

The report was presented to the Council by the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercialisation and Partnerships.

 

DECISION:

 

To approve adjustments to the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital programme as set in table 5 and 7 of Appendix A (to the original Cabinet report attached).

Supporting documents: