Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste presented the report that provided responsiveness to community needs and Cabinet were requesting a steer from the Committee on an option to take.

The report highlighted a persistent high demand for the bulky waste collection service, which was available to book through the Council’s website at a cost of £21 per item, followed by a reduction in the next items.

At present, there was a long lead time for some collections based on disposal. The Council had 1 vehicle and 2 operatives for bulky waste. The bulky waste service occasionally struggled to keep up with requests, particularly for fridge collections in the south of the District, where there was a current 8-week wait.

The report revolved around the opportunity to expand the bulky waste service into a second vehicle and crew to reduce wait times, particularly for challenging items. The investment would enhance service efficiency, it would increase revenue for the Council whilst addressing a growing public demand. 

If an additional bulky waste vehicle was purchased, it would have additional utility outside of bulky waste collections. It could be used for alternative collections, if the demand for bulky waste reduced in the future.

It was noted by a Member that bulky waste items had been found abandoned at the entrance to fields in their area, and so expanding the Bulky Waste Collection Service would likely reduce this issue. The Member also noted that given the nature of the vehicle, it could be used to support the Fly Tipping Team.

In line with the service provided by Boston Borough Council, a Member queried whether additional smaller items could be taken on the day of the bulky item collection for an additional fee. Whilst the fees charged by Boston Borough Council are only relatively small (£3 for a waste bag, £6 for a fence panel) this could be a means of additional income. The Cabinet Member stated that this had been raised during discussions with the Head of Waste and Markets and that this was under review as it would have to be sustainable.

A Member sought confirmation of the accuracy of the fuel calculation and whether the vehicles were being ran as efficiently as possible. The Cabinet Member acknowledged that this information would lie with the Officers and may need to be fed back after the meeting. 

A suggestion was made to facilitate a public skip. The Cabinet Member confirmed that dialogue was ongoing with Boston Borough Council to gage the success of their trial period for this scheme.

Clarification was sought as to whether the Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste was in favour of the proposal. The Cabinet Member recognised that whilst the demand would likely be popular, it needed to be considered that the proposals may not be profitable financially. Ultimately the view on  whether to include the proposal within the budget setting process, was at the discretion of the Committee.

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Waste noted that there were 141 incidents of fly tipping in September alone and incidents peaked at 144 in July 2024. The result of which was that over the last 12 months, the internal costs of dealing with fly tipping was £88,000. Ultimately individuals were responsible for the disposal of their waste and the Cabinet Member urged the public to not take individuals pledging to clear garages for £15/20 at face value as these unlicensed schemes contribute to the high levels of fly tipping. Members of the public could contact SKDC for clarification whether an individual/firm are licensed. 

The previous portfolio holder recognised this to be a long-standing issue which was financially motivated and suggested significantly increasing the fines as a deterrent.

A Member requested greater clarity on the definition of bulky waste items.

The Cabinet Member confirmed that a full list of bulky waste items was on the SKDC webpage under Bulky Waste Collections.

That the Committee:

1.    Consider the business case for the additional bulky waste collection vehicle and crew. 

It was proposed, seconded and AGREED for the inclusion of an additional vehicle and crew be put into the budget setting process.