Agenda and minutes

– to note the names of members of the public wishing to speak on general matters affecting the District or on agenda items (in the case of the latter, representations will normally be received at the time of the agenda item, after the Portfolio Holder’s introduction and any questions from Cabinet Members).

There were no questions asked or comments made.

The Leader announced that the Council had completed the purchase of the former Friarsgate Medical Centre and five properties either side of the bus station entrance to the Broadway.  The Council now owned about 90% of the Central Winchester Regeneration site area giving it more scope to deliver its regeneration vision.  The Leader thanked the Corporate Head of Asset Management for his work in relation to the purchases.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Thompson welcomed the acquisition.

Councillor Warwick introduced the report and highlighted that the Government had just announced its new Resources and Waste Strategy. The Strategy included the following:

·         Proposals to ensure producers pay the cost of recycling packaging;

·         Weekly food waste collection;

·         Promoting free garden waste collection;

·         Introduce a consistent set of recyclable materials and labelling on packaging.

Councillor Warwick stated that the report linked closely with the new Strategy and the Council was intending to respond positively to the Government on its proposals.

Councillor Warwick highlighted that a detailed procurement exercise had been undertaken with consultant’s advice.  The 2016 survey had indicated the popularity for introducing kerbside glass collection and it was proposed this would be introduced from the start of the one year contract extension.  Although this one year contract extension was more expensive than currently charged (due to the shorter timescale and inclusion of kerbside glass recycling), comparison indicated it was at a mid-point in terms of price.  The contract extension proposed would also enable the lease of some new refuse vehicles to improve reliability.  There would also be a dedicated contract management team based within the Council.  Councillor Warwick highlighted that legal advice was that it was not possible to enter into a joint contract with East Hants District Council as they had delegated provision of the service to Havant District Council.  She thanked the Strategic Director for his work in progressing the contract negotiations.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillors Thompson and Bell addressed Cabinet as summarised below.

Councillor Thompson

·         Welcomed the proposal to introduce kerbside glass collection but believed it should have been included when the current contract was awarded 8 years ago;

·         Expressed regret it would only be a monthly collection of glass and queried whether this would change to fortnightly after the one year contract extension period?

·         Was the cost of the collection containers included?

·         Welcomed the Government announcement regarding food waste collection but urged the Council to introduce before the deadline given of 2023.

Councillor Bell

·         Welcomed the Government’s proposals in relation to waste and recycling;

·         Requested that the Integra presentation given at The Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 13 December 2018 be made available to Members;

·         Agreed with Councillor Thompson’s comments that kerbside glass recycling should have been introduced earlier and that food waste recycling should be introduced as quickly as possible.

Councillor Warwick stated that the capital cost of purchase of new containers was included in paragraph 2.2 of the report.  The Integra presentation would be made available to Members.

With regard to frequency of glass collection, the Strategic Director advised that this varied between local authorities with some collecting fortnightly and some monthly, without a significant different in collection rates.  The monthly collection would operate for one year and Members’ could then decide whether they wished to increase frequency based on experience.

In response to questions, the Strategic Director confirmed that benchmarking information indicated that the current contract was one of the cheapest compared with other local authorities and had offered  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

To consider whether in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

(i)            To pass a resolution that the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business because it is likely that, if members of the public were present, there would be disclosure to them of ‘exempt information’ as defined by Section 100 (I) and Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED:

1.         That in all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

2.         That the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business because it is likely that, if members of the public were present, there would be disclosure to them of ‘exempt information’ as defined by Section 100I and Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Cabinet considered the contents of the exempt appendices to the report which included commercially sensitive information regarding the proposed contract extension, in addition to legal advice (detail in exempt minute).