Agenda and minutes

To note the terms of reference for the Panel that were agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 16 July 2019.

The Panel noted its Terms of Reference which had been agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 16 July 2019.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 16 December 2019.

The notes of the meeting of the Task and Finish Panel held on 16 December 2019 were agreed as a correct record.

Councillor D Wixley referred back to his comments made at the last meeting on reporting overflowing bins (Min no 16(b)). It seemed that Biffa emptied bins that were three quarters (and above) full, but this could result in bins overflowing and felt it was the responsibility of the contractor to look at this problem. He asked if this information could be fed back to Biffa.

Councillor C C Pond had observed trade waste being put into a bin in Loughton High Road near Barclays Bank from a nearby café.

The Service Director, Q Durrani, replied that part education by stickers on bins, and part enforcement was needed to deal with these problems.

The work programme for the Panel that was agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 16 July 2019, is attached as an appendix to this agenda.

The work programme was noted.

(Service Director (Contracts & Technical Services)) To consider the attached report.

The Chairman had received some comments from Councillor C McCredie, who had given her apologies for this meeting, and at her request read these out to members as detailed below:

·      She thanked the Service Manager (Contracts), J Warwick, for his help in organising a distribution point for clear recycling sacks in Epping Green.

·      It had been brought to her attention the quantity of litter around [Epping] town and that several community minded people collected it. This was great but she had contacted the Council as she felt this could be assisted more by the street cleansing team and even an education programme.

·      She had spoken to Marks and Spencer regarding its new recycling facility and to the retailer’s provider. She had also spoken to Terra-cycle regarding recycling the currently un-recyclables, which was interesting. As the Council had declared the climate emergency, she firmly believed the Council should be exploring these avenues.

·      She believed in getting the message out to the next generation, today’s youngsters.

(1)       The Panel was asked to make recommendations on the following options.

a)         Results of the street cleansing pilot and the additional residential roads to be included in the new street cleansing programme

The street cleansing pilot from November 2019 to January 2020 where some residential roads had been moved from a two-weekly to a three-weekly cleansing cycle, had not resulted in an increase in complaints. This had allowed additional cleansing of some through roads in the District to reduce the level and perception of littering. The results of inspections by officers confirmed that there had been no decrease in the street scene and positive visual effects were seen on the through roads. Thus the change of cleansing cycle on residential roads and reuse of resources to increase litter collections on through roads would lead to service delivery improvements.

The Waste and Recycling Manager, D Marsh, explained that the data in the report showed that over two tonnes of extra road waste was removed during the trial. When the three-weekly cycle totals were included, a total tonnage of just under four tonnes of waste was collected during the trial period.

The Service Manager, J Warwick, reported that as the results supported the completed trial, the Panel was asked for its recommendations and to agree that additional residential streets be included in the new street cleansing programme.

Councillor S Neville asked why those particular roads were included in the trial and was this from complaints?

The Waste and Recycling Manager replied complaints were generally low. It was the visual effect of white litter on the roadside. The increasing amount of litter was not always from people living in the District but travelling through. The public perception was to add to litter that remained there, so the Council was looking at ways to tackle the problem and this had helped concentrate on removing roadside litter.

Councillor J H Whitehouse said that this had been a worthwhile trial, but what was the measurement being used to judge the roads?  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

To note that this is the final meeting of the Task and Finish Panel, as its recommendations are due to go forward to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 17 March 2020.

The Chairman thanked members and officers for participating in the Waste Management Task and Finish Panel, as this was the final meeting.