Agenda item

1.    That a new food waste collection and recycling service be implemented in line with the requirements of Simpler Recycling through the Council’s contractor, Biffa, at a forecast cost of £1.611m per annum.

2.    That additional baseline revenue budget of £0.211m per annum for the ongoing cost of the food waste service be approved, in addition to the £1.4m previously agreed in February 2024 (CAB3444 refers).

3.    That it be agreed to start collecting food waste from October 2025 on a phased roll out basis at a total forecast cost in 25/26 of £457k. An additional one-off budget of £317k is required in 25/26 to be funded by the major investment reserve.

4.    That the additional baseline budget of £105k per annum from 25/26 be agreed for the relocation of the grounds maintenance contractor to enable Biffa full use of the depot at Barfield Close from which to operate the new food waste service. A part year supplementary budget of £50k is required for 24/25 to enable the new lease to start in December 2024.

5.    That the contract with the Council’s contractor, Biffa, be varied to include the new food waste collection service.

6.    That the capital budget for this project be increased by £159k, to be funded by borrowing, to allow for the additional costs, outlined in Appendix 1 of report CAB3475.

7.    That the required bins and caddies with associated branding necessary to start food waste collections be procured, with authority delegated to the Strategic Director in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Change to agree assessment criteria and conclude the process, including use of an approved framework, in line with the forecast cost of £429k as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report, from this project’s approved capital allocation in 25/26.

8.    That authority to incur expenditure of up to £853k for identified revenue costs and up to £604k for identified capital costs be agreed as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, (Stage 1 – Revenue and Stage 1 – Capital).

9.    That authority to agree the detail of the new food waste service be delegated to the Strategic Director in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency.

Councillor Learney introduced the report which set out proposals to confirm the introduction of weekly food waste collection on a phased basis from October 2025.  She referred to the extensive resident consultation undertaken in 2023 which indicated strong support for the service and reiterated that it was a legal requirement that it be introduced by 31 March 2026.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillors Lee and Bolton addressed Cabinet as summarised briefly below.

Councillor Lee

He referred to his comments made at Scrutiny Committee about the benefits of delaying food waste collection in order to prioritise bigger carbon reduction projects. He had concerns that the proposals relating to the electrification programme for waste collection vehicles were  premature in advance of the local area energy plan.

Councillor Bolton

He expressed that consideration of the report at the previous Scrutiny Committee meeting was unsatisfactory due to the lack of time available.  He highlighted that the survey indicated that residents would like to recycle more but to have as few bins as possible.  Noting that the County Council were the disposal authority, he asked what measures were being taken to work together with other Hampshire district councils (the collection authorities) to ensure a consistent approach was adopted.

Councillor Learney and the Service Lead – Environmental Services responded to the comments made including confirming that district councils were working together and had presented to the County Council their preference for a collection system.

Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons set out in the report and outlined above.

RESOLVED:

1.                That a new food waste collection and recycling service be implemented in line with the requirements of Simpler Recycling through the Council’s contractor, Biffa, at a forecast cost of £1.611m per annum.

2.                That additional baseline revenue budget of £0.211m per annum for the ongoing cost of the food waste service be approved, in addition to the £1.4m previously agreed in February 2024 (CAB3444 refers).

3.                That it be agreed to start collecting food waste from October 2025 on a phased roll out basis at a total forecast cost in 25/26 of £457k. An additional one-off budget of £317k is required in 25/26 to be funded by the major investment reserve.

4.                That the additional baseline budget of £105k per annum from 25/26 be agreed for the relocation of the grounds maintenance contractor to enable Biffa full use of the depot at Barfield Close from which to operate the new food waste service. A part year supplementary budget of £50k is required for 24/25 to enable the new lease to start in December 2024.

5.                That the contract with the Council’s contractor, Biffa, be varied to include the new food waste collection service.

6.                That the capital budget for this project be increased by £159k, to be funded by borrowing, to allow for the additional costs, outlined in Appendix 1 of report CAB3475.

7.                That the required bins and caddies with associated branding necessary to start food waste collections be procured, with authority delegated to the Strategic Director in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Change to agree assessment criteria and conclude the process, including use of an approved framework, in line with the forecast cost of £429k as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report, from this project’s approved capital allocation in 25/26.

8.                That authority to incur expenditure of up to £853k for identified revenue costs and up to £604k for identified capital costs be agreed as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, (Stage 1 – Revenue and Stage 1 – Capital).

9.                That authority to agree the detail of the new food waste service be delegated to the Strategic Director in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency.