Issue - meetings

To consider the rollout of enhanced recycling services to flats across the Borough.

RESOLVED that:

(i)            The overall success of the rollout of the enhanced kerbside recycling scheme, agreed by the Executive in December 2010, be noted.

(ii)          The Council’s continued support for the rollout of enhanced recycling services to flats across the borough be reaffirmed.

(iii)         The Strategic Head of Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, be authorised to roll out Phase 1 and plan for, and roll out Phase 2.

(iv)         It be noted providing kerbside recycling for the remaining properties would be considered as part of a process of continued improvement, recognising rollout would be challenging and may not prove cost effective.    

Councillor A.C.J. Horwood, Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, introduced the report setting out the Council’s approach, and continued support, to enhanced kerbside recycling facilities for flats and properties with communal bin areas.

The report before the Executive reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to implementing an enhanced recycling service for 1873 flats, principally located in Redhill and Reigate, by the end of March 2019 (Phase 1). Furthermore, Councillor Horwood explained that the report was seeking agreement to plan for the introduction of services to an additional 2,300 flats across the borough during 2019/20 (Phase 2).   

The Executive Member explained that the report provided further details on timescales, resources required and the anticipated recycling yield. It was also highlighted that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the report at their meeting on 6 September 2018. It was noted that this had provided a useful forum for discussion. It was explained that the Committee had raised a number of questions but had generally been supportive of the proposals set out in the report.

It was highlighted that following Phases 1 and 2 a business as usual approach would be taken in relation to rolling out recycling facilities to remaining flats across the borough. It was noted that this would require consultation, agreement and in some cases investment from flat owners.

During the discussion, both the Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services responded to various questions on the rollout of enhanced recycling services to flats across the borough. 

Councillor Horwood concluded by providing clarity on the following sections of the report:

-       The reference to financial arrangements between the Authority and Surrey County Council should have been removed from recommendation (iv) and sections 11, 14 and 26 of the report, as this element of the roll out was considered as business as usual.

-       Section 6 of the report incorrectly made reference to Phases 1, 2 and 3. The report should have been updated as reference to increased recycling rates related to a roll-out to all flats.

-       Option 3, set out in section 17 of the report, should have been removed as this work was considered as normal business.            

In response to these updates, and to ensure clarity, the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services moved an amendment to recommendation (iv), which was agreed and it was therefore;  

RESOLVED that:

(i)            The overall success of the rollout of the enhanced kerbside recycling scheme, agreed by the Executive in December 2010, be noted.

(ii)          The Council’s continued support for the rollout of enhanced recycling services to flats across the borough be reaffirmed.

(iii)         The Strategic Head of Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, be authorised to roll out Phase 1 and plan for, and roll out Phase 2.

(iv)         It be noted providing kerbside recycling for the remaining properties would be considered as part of a process of continued improvement, recognising rollout would be challenging and may not prove cost effective.    

Reasons  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37

To consider the Flats Recycling Service report to be considered by the Executive on 13 September 2018, and to offer any comments to support the Executive’s consideration of the report.

To consider any Advance Questions submitted.

The Committee considered the Flats Recycling Service report to be considered by the Executive, in advance of its consideration at the Executive meeting of 13 September 2018. It was noted that the Committee was pleased to be able to offer pre-scrutiny support of the report.

The report was identified to lay out the Council’s approach to offering enhanced kerbside recycling to flats and communal properties in the borough. The report identified that this would be conducted as a phased approach, with initial service implementation for properties requiring minimal alteration and planning for and subsequent roll out to additional properties requiring some supporting actions.

The Committee considered and discussed the report, and there were a number of questions and comments relating to the following topics:

·         The extent of and timescale for service provision. It was identified that the recommendations of the report referred to phases 1 and 2, but that there was mention in the body of the report to a phase 3 (including in the ‘Options’ section, including paragraphs 15 to 18). It was identified that phases 1 and 2 would provide the service to those properties requiring either minimal or relatively minor alteration, and that there would be a remaining number of properties which would require more significant adjustments or investment by managing agents or landlords in order to allow for inclusion in the service.

A query was raised regarding when properties not included in phases 1 and 2 might expect to receive the service, and if the proposed actions were equally supportive of residents in the properties not included in those phases.

It was noted that clarification regarding the proposed approach to the outstanding properties, options, and references to phase 3 would be confirmed for the Executive’s consideration of the report.

·         Costs. It was identified that the expansion of the service would incur additional capital and revenue costs, due to the requirement for additional bins, collection rounds and supporting officers. It was identified that the reduction in landfill costs would not present a significant counterbalancing saving.

·         Contamination of recycling. It was identified that contamination of waste was a significant potential risk, and that contaminated waste both reduced the environmental benefit obtained and incurred significant effective costs to the Council. It was identified that some of the potential properties to be served by the expanded service might be at additional risk of contamination, due to the likely required locations of bins. It was identified that some countermeasures were available, including manual checking by collection officers, but that these were also likely to incur additional costs and were not fully effective.

·         Flats Recycling Officer. It was identified that the recommendations included the employment of flats recycling officer to support the expanded arrangements.

·         New developments: It was identified that newly developed properties would be expected to be included in the expanded service, and that officers would seek to work with developers to ensure that the properties supported recycling arrangements.

·         Current recycling practices: It was identified  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22