Issue - meetings

Note:              The meeting returned to open session at 7.57pm

The Committee gave consideration to a report presented by the Assistant Director of Commercial and Operational Services regarding the revised Waste Services Policies. It was explained that the purpose of the report was to provide commentary on the proposed Waste Service Policies resulting from the forthcoming introduction of separate paper and cardboard collections. The Committee heard that the document was first introduced when the triple bin scheme was introduced in 2009 and had been updated on a couple of occasions since then. It was now timely to update the document given the upcoming introduction of Purple Lidded bins in April. It was noted that most policies within the document were working well and had not changed, with those that had changed summarised as follows.

Note:              Councillor M. Devine returned to the Chamber at 8.00pm

Policy 8 was around the new separate paper and card collections. All residents who currently received a wheeled bin collection service would receive a purple lidded bin to enable them to separate out their paper and card. There was no opt out, any resident who indicated they did not want a bin would be visited by Officers and a solution would be found to their individual issues, this had worked well in North Kesteven and Boston. All purple lidded bins would be free until April 2024, there was no capacity to supply more than one of these bins and there had been very little demand for this in other districts. The exception to this service would be properties mainly in the South West Ward of Gainsborough, but also other areas around the district, who currently had a sack based collection regime. This was because the current end destination contractor did not have the ability to split bags, however, there was work ongoing to resolve this, meaning the service may be expanded in due course.

Policy 12 was around side waste, where the council had traditionally taken recycling side waste in sacks. Given the need to keep paper and card clean and dry and improve the quality of the other dry recyclate, it was proposed that no side waste should be taken from the date of implementation.

Policy 14 was in relation to missed bins and the council would continue with the pledge to empty missed bins within five working days, whilst wherever possible keeping the waste in the correct stream.

Within Policy 15 it was proposed to remove the need to give a crime reference number when replacing stolen bins as it was not a major issue in or district and the practice simply caused unnecessary delays and demands on the Police and Customer Services staff.

Policy 18 referred to the supply of bins to new properties. Purple lidded bins would be free until 2024 at new properties, after which there would be a cost. Finally, Policy 25 recognised that the purple bins would be supplied free to village halls.

The Assistant Director of Commercial and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 63