Issue - meetings

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.

27.1     The Waste Team Manager introduced the report and outlined the key points of the report. Around two years ago the Council consulted on service changes to the Household Waste Recycling Site (HWRS) Service to achieve £720,000 of savings. This included the closure of two sites, changes to the opening hours at others, and the introduction of charging for the disposal of some items of non-domestic waste at HWRS sites. The Team have delivered over £600,000 worth of savings, which taken together with the savings made by the reduction in waste volumes taken to HWRS sites, has fully achieved the savings target.

27.2     Work has been completed on the Wadhurst and Forest Row sites which are now closed and the waste licences surrendered. The changes to site opening hours have worked well and the chargeable waste scheme is operating well and appears to be accepted by residents. The report notes that there is an under recovery from the charging scheme. This will be monitored, and action taken as necessary.

27.3     The review of the HWRS Service also included a review of the Charity Waste Scheme. As part of this work the Waste Team has spoken to all the charities who use the Scheme, most of which are local. Around two thirds of the charities have links to the Council, and some are involved in repurposing household waste (e.g. furniture services). The majority do a lot of good work which benefits residents and supports the Council’s objectives. Therefore, it was difficult to find a basis on which to suggest reductions or changes to the Charity Waste Scheme.

27.4     The Waste Team Manager outlined that there had been limited negative feedback from residents and organisations about the changes to the Service. The Waste Team are monitoring the impact of the changes made by East Sussex County Council (ESCC) on Brighton and Hove City Council (BHCC) as well as the changes made by neighbouring authorities such as West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and Kent County Council.  The Team have successfully delivered the changes to the Service which were required in order to make the agreed level of savings.

27.5     The Committee discussed the report and made the following comments and observations about the changes to the HWRS Service.

Fly-Tipping

27.6     The Committee noted that the bar chart in paragraph 2.17 of the report shows that fly-tipping is increasing. The bar chart shows the number of fly-tips, but it is also important to look at the quantity of material that is fly-tipped. The Committee commented that from their experience there appears to have been an increase in fly tipping and asked how much of the chargeable types of waste are ending up as fly-tips as there appears to have been an increase in small quantities of building/DIY waste being fly-tipped. The Committee questioned whether it would it be more cost effective to accept all types of waste as residents still bear the cost of clearing up fly-tipping.

27.7     The Waste Team Manager explained that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27

Report by Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

5.1       The Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport together with comments from the Place Scrutiny Committee Waste Review Board. The following people addressed the Cabinet on behalf of petitioners: Councillor Rowena Moore (Forest Row Household Waste Recycling site) and Councillors Anthony Dunnett and Graham Wells (Wadhurst Household Waste Recycling Site)

5.2       It was RESOLVED to –

1)            i) introduce disposal charges for rubble, soil, plasterboard, asbestos and tyres and delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, to set appropriate charges to cover the disposal costs incurred by East Sussex County Council for non household waste;

ii) close the two part time Household Waste and Recycling Sites at Forest Row and Wadhurst with effect from 30 September 2018;

iii)  reduce opening times at Lewes and Mountfield to 9am - 4pm daily; and

2)            ask the East Sussex County Council Waste Team to continue to engage with Charitable Organisations currently using ESCC facilities for the disposal of their waste to understand the sources of this waste better and the impact the introduction of any restrictions may have on their organisations, and to report to the Lead Member for Transport and Environment on the findings and options for a Charity Waste Policy in the Autumn of 2018.

Reason

5.3          It is estimated that the savings target will be met if all the proposals are implemented. It is also known that there will be additional revenue budget pressures as funding levels decrease in future years. Therefore, the Cabinet has agreed that the following changes are made to the Household Waste Recycling Site (HWRS) service –

·         Charges are introduced for rubble and soil, plasterboard, asbestos and tyres at all HWRSs

·         Closure of the two part time HWRSs at Forest Row and Wadhurst

·         Reduction in opening times at Lewes and Mountfield HWRSs to 9-4pm

5.4       We have considered all of the feedback and concerns received during the consultation process and do not feel that the proposals should be withdrawn as a result of the information that our stakeholders have provided. We have learnt of the strong desire for the community to investigate whether they can run a site and we will support by giving advice and guidance. We will also explore whether a full day closure at certain HWRSs might offer further efficiencies beyond a shorter working day. The changes to the HWRS service will enable East Sussex County Council to deliver required savings against its reduced waste budget.

5.5       The implementation of the proposals resulting from the Household Waste Recycling Site Review will enable the waste service to continue to provide high quality sites and a wide range of materials for recycling and disposal. The changes will also mean that East Sussex County Council continues to comply with its statutory obligations to provide sites that are reasonably accessible to residents of East Sussex and available for the free disposal of household waste.

5.6                   East Sussex County Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5