Issue - meetings

Report number POI049 from the Head of HR and Customer Service.             (Enclosure)

The Chairman welcomed the Performance, Consultation and Communications Service Manager to the meeting. She explained the quarter two performance report the Committee had before them focussed on the Quality Living priority and covered the period April to September 2010. Mrs Yates provided a brief overview of performance against the priority:

·         54.2% of households’ waste was recycled, reused or composted between April and September.

·         Waste crews made 72,295 refuse/green bin collections per week, equating to over 3.7million collections a year.

·         Public confidence in the district council and police working together to tackle anti-social behaviour had increased from 52% to 57%.

·         The number of food businesses who had achieved only one star as part of the council’s hygiene ratings had decreased.

·         During the reporting period, the Waste and Recycling team had received the greatest number of complaints. This averaged at 3 a week. 37 out of the 45 complaints were about missed bins.

Reducing the environmental impact of waste disposal

·         The Council aimed to achieve 55% recycling/composting of household waste by March 2011.

·         Officers delivered educational work about recycling through schools. Members supported this approach. Feedback from schools had been positive and many reported their pupils had started their own recycling schemes.

·         One Member suggested that the Council could run a “recycling proficiency” programme with schools, where children would carry out recycling-related activities and achieve a badge or certificate. This would be fed back to officers.

·         The economic climate meant people were welcoming the recycle/reuse agenda and were making deliberate choices to reduce waste.

·         The Scrutiny Committee had set up a working group to review bin collection vehicles. The routes were changing and the working group was in hiatus until this had been completed.

·         Last year the Council did not meet its target for recycling, composting and reusing. At the end of the reporting period for 2010/11, the level being achieved was just under target. Members questioned whether the target was realistic or whether it needed reviewing for 2011/12.

Reducing carbon emissions and protecting local communities from severe weather events

·         Members felt people were becoming more open to the idea of reducing carbon emissions because it provided opportunities for them to save money.

·         Messages about reducing carbon emissions and energy efficiency were central features of public engagement events like ‘Cleaner, Greener, Safer’.

·         Advice for reducing emissions is regularly included in SK Today.

Stronger communities with clean and safe places to live

·         Members agreed that the standards of cleanliness in the district were generally good.

·         New bins for depositing chewing gum had been deployed in each of the district’s major towns. Members queried whether these would also be available in villages.

·         Officers from Waste and Recycling were handing out heatproof pouches that go in pockets, bags, etc. for the safe collection of cigarette butts so that smokers could dispose of them at home. They were being distributed at public events. Members wanted to know the cost of this project.

·         Lots of villages in the district had ‘clean up’ days  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29

Report Number POI049 from the Head of HR and Customer Service.

(Enclosure)

This item was deferred until the Committee’s next meeting on 22 February 2011.