Agenda item

1.      That the introduction of a new garden waste collection service from households which pay an annual charge to replace the existing free service to all households be approved, as described in the report CAB3234.

2.      That the annual charge in the first year of the service is set at £39 for those choosing a 140 litre wheeled bin and £59 for those choosing a 240 litre wheeled bin.

3.      That for those households (and only those households) which are currently permitted to use an alternative method of presenting their household waste - or where required for operational reasons - a charge of £39 for two 90litre sacks or £59 for three 90litre sacks is made for the collection of garden waste.

4.      That the Strategic Director (Services) be authorised to take all steps necessary to procure, award, negotiate heads of terms and enter into contract and / or contract variations, notifications and other steps necessary to implement the new service and remove the existing service.

5.      That capital expenditure of up to £400k be authorised for the purchase of the new garden waste bins.

6.      That the new service commence on or around 1^st February 2021.

Councillor Tod introduced the report which had also been discussed at the Health and Environment Policy Committee on 7 July 2020.  He highlighted that the decision to introduce a charge for garden waste collection had been approved by the full Council on 26 February 2020 as part of the budget process, with the details to be agreed at Cabinet.  He proposed an amendment to the report’s third recommendation to enable the use of garden waste sacks by households where required for operational reasons.  This amendment was agreed as set out below.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Godfrey addressed Cabinet as summarised briefly below.

Queried the impact of charging for garden waste collection on the council’s overall recycling targets.  Whether the various risks involved had been fully assessed, including if the levels of take up were below the breakeven point.  With regard to paragraph 11.6 of the report, requested further information regarding the Biffa offer to introduce a tiered charging scheme

Councillor Tod responded to the comments made, including highlighting the amount of benchmarking and liaison with neighbouring authorities that had been undertaken, and overall considered the risks had been carefully assessed.  The level of take up would be carefully monitored during the launch period and any necessary adjustments made.  With regard to the impact on recycling levels overall, the Strategic Director explained that this would be minimal.

Cabinet considered the report noting the risk section and considered any potential  impact on protected groups from offering a bin based collection and noted that a backdoor collection would be available for those who could not pull the bin. Councillor Tod confirmed that the marketing and communications on the new charging regime would emphasise that take up was optional and explain the alternatives that were available, such as composting or taking garden waste to household waste recycling centres.

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

RESOLVED:

1.          That the introduction of a new garden waste collection service from households which pay an annual charge to replace the existing free service to all households be approved, as described in the report.

2.          That the annual charge in the first year of the service is set at £39 for those choosing a 140 litre wheeled bin and £59 for those choosing a 240 litre wheeled bin.

3.          That for those households (and only those households) which are currently permitted to use an alternative method of presenting their household waste - or where required for operational reasons - a charge of £39 for two 90litre sacks or £59 for three 90litre sacks is made for the collection of garden waste.

4.          That the Strategic Director (Services) be authorised to take all steps necessary to procure, award, negotiate heads of terms and enter into contract and / or contract variations, notifications and other steps necessary to implement the new service and remove the existing service.

5.          That capital expenditure of up to £400k be authorised for the purchase of the new garden waste bins.

6.          That the new service commence on or around 1^st February 2021.