Issue - meetings

Report Ref CAB3044

The report was introduced by the Strategic Director. The report sought a decision from Cabinet on the procurement of services for the collection of household waste, recycling collections, maintenance of grounds, litter collection and associated services from 1 October 2019. The Strategic Director gave a summary of the report and advised Members that the issue had already been discussed at the recent meeting of The Overview and Scrutiny Committee and was planned to go to Cabinet later this month.

Members raised a variety of local issues including weed spraying, the upkeep of roundabouts and reservations, street cleaning (specifically gulley cleaning), the cleaning of the High St and general points around the reporting of issues for resolution.

The Strategic Director responded to the points from Members. Whilst acknowledging the points Members raised, contracts of this nature contained many variables that could be difficult to plan for, for example, extremes in weather. It is vital that any operational issues continued to be reported to the Client team, who were keen to make improvements to their own monitoring systems.

Regarding Members’ comments concerning proposals for changes to the contract specification and specific issues with identified streets, the Strategic Director advised that Members have the opportunity to put these forward as part of the current decision-making process.

Members then discussed how the Forum could be involved in developing the contract specification. Members agreed to form a small working party which will meet once before Christmas 2018 and once more before the end of the municipal year. The Chair would coordinate the setting up of this group and will invite the Strategic Director to attend.

The Committee considered the above report which recommended a way forward regarding the Environmental Services contract (detail in exempt minute).

The meeting commenced at 6.30pm and concluded at 9.35pm.