In almost half of the Gainsborough South West Ward, waste is collected through an authorised weekly black bag system.
This council notes that this system results in poor environmental health issues and poor living conditions for many residents, it also recognises that it negatively impacts on the appearance of the town.
There is an urgent need for this council to consider the welfare of the residents, I therefore request this council:
1. Reviews its current operational delivery of waste services in the Gainsborough South West Ward and provide an in-depth options analysis for alternative collection methods.
2. Consults with local residents regarding solutions for local waste collection.
I so move.
Cllr Trevor Young
Minutes:
Councillor Trevor Young submitted the following Motion: -
“In almost half of the Gainsborough South West Ward, waste is collected through an authorised weekly black bag system.
This Council notes that this system results in poor environmental health issues and poor living conditions for many residents, it also recognises that it negatively impacts on the appearance of the town.
There is an urgent need for this Council to consider the welfare of the residents, I therefore request this Council:
1. Reviews its current operational delivery of waste services in the Gainsborough South West Ward and provide an in-depth options analysis for alternative collection methods.
2. Consults with local residents regarding solutions for local waste collection.
I so move”
Councillor Jeff Summers, as Leader of the Council, responded as follows: -
“Thank you for your motion which I am happy to second. But I would like to take this opportunity to explain the current position.
Approximately 2,000 properties mainly in the South West Ward of Gainsborough currently receive an enhanced weekly sack based waste collection system. This method of collection continued when the rest of the District moved to fortnightly wheeled bin collections in 2009, residual waste is collected on Thursdays and recycling picked up on Fridays, sacks are provided to residents.
Street Cleansing teams do a final clean after waste collections have taken place and also visit all ten foots on a regular basis throughout the working week to clear away any waste presented early or fly-tipped material.
This collection regime has been in place for many years and has been viewed as most appropriate for the area as the Councils’ collection vehicles cannot access the ten foots if wheeled bins are presented there.
The Council has received no formal complaints about the collection methodology in the last two years, nor has it received any formal complaints about rats in that area which are present due to the collection methodology.
I have spent time on three separate visits to the South West ward during the last two weeks. The most recent was last Thursday which is collection day. I personally witnessed the presentation style of the sacks, many were sensibly placed to the side of the ten foot in neat piles to allow orderly passage of residents. Many others had simply been tossed over the walls and laid randomly across the ten foot impeding passage. Some burst open making it more difficult to clear for our crews.
It was apparent to me after revisiting some ten-foots post collection what a great job our crews are doing, almost spotless after the mini sweeper had been through. Mechanical sweepers cannot access all the nooks and cranny’s.
However, as we continually strive to provide the best services possible and as the Council has not formally reviewed collection methods in the area since 2009 it does make sense to consider advances in the waste management sector and understand the views of residents.
I support the motion and will commission our Officers to
1. Review its current operational delivery of waste services in the Gainsborough South West Ward and provide an in-depth options analysis for alternative collection methods.
2. Consult with local residents regarding solutions for local waste collection.”
Debate ensued and a number of Members across the Chamber commented on the fantastic work the crews carried out in the area. All were in agreement that this was not disputed, however, it was accepted that the current collection method did come with its issues and exploration of alternative options did have merit.
Residents also needed to work with the Council and present their waste in an appropriate manner, to aide collection and post clean-up.
Having been moved and seconded, on being put to the vote the Motion, as submitted was declared CARRIED.