Agenda and minutes

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest in any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Committee is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meetings held on 12, 30 and 31 January 2023.

The minutes of the meetings held on 12, 30 and 31 January 2023 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.  

To receive the minutes from the Working Group.

·       Missed Bins 9 January 2023.

Members noted the minutes from the Missed Bins Working Group

To consider any matter referred to the Committee for a decision in relation to the call in of a decision.

Members were informed that no call-ins had been received.

To inform the Committee of items on the Cabinet’s work programme, from which items for scrutiny may be identified.

The Committee noted the Cabinet Work Programme.

To receive the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Working Group’s report into Missed Bins which is contained within the agenda.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee is asked to CONSIDER the recommendations contained within the report and RECOMMEND to Cabinet accordingly.

The Committee received the report on Missed Bins. The Vice-Chair of the working group gave a summary at the meeting of the report. The purpose of the report was to achieve the outcome identified in the scoping report of understanding why bins were missed and if the number of missed bins could be reduced. The review was in accordance with the Council values of innovation and readiness for change, valuing employees and enabling the active involvement of everyone, continuous improvement and delivering value for money, and integrity and professional competency.

Discussions ensued with the process of glass collection and vehicle specifications. Officers confirmed to the Committee the glass collection process and Management controls that took place. Members commented that along with other authorities it was necessary for the waste collections to commence before the times stated in the recommendation in extreme weather. Members agreed to add the additional wording to the first recommendation.

The Portfolio for Environment and Climate Change attended the meeting.

RESOLVED that the following be RECOMMENDED to Cabinet:

1.     To ensure that residual, recycling, and garden waste bin collections do not commence before 6.30am and glass recycling collection do not commence before 7am unless in circumstances of extreme weather with management checking vehicle tachographs at least once a month.

2.     To ensure that employees do not ’dunk’ residents glass recycling bins

3.     To investigate vehicle specification (particularly narrow track vehicles) to facilitate access to difficult access areas)

4.     To improve the communication between the crews supporting each other on the brown lidded (garden waste) service.

5.     Create a process, as part of a review of the Waste Strategy, that addresses bins that have not been presented for collection in the correct manner including for example, charging for collection and/or not returning to collect.

6.     Implement an enhanced investigation and engagement process, that includes the householder, in relation to repeat missed bins.

7.     Where a bin is missed due to service failure it will be collected as soon as practically possible and within 5 working days.

8.     To ensure the vehicle specification is included by Environment Services in every new development consultation response to Planning Services.

9.     Bins should be returned to the point of collection after being emptied where it is safe to do so.

Members are asked to evaluate the last year of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and consider any changes for the following year.

Members reviewed the last year of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Discussions ensued of what worked well and improvements that could be made for the new Committee to consider. Some of the comments were as follows:

·       Enjoyed being at the meetings, worthwhile committee to sit on.

·       Interesting to be part of the Committee, would like to see how the Committee engage with the public. What do the residents think?

·       Very interesting learning experience.

·       It’s brilliant, a really good committee

·       Time was an issue, finding the time to discuss was difficult. Too many members on working groups. Format for the presentations.

·       We’ve struggled to get through the meetings with time pressures.

·       Start times should work for younger people.

·       Engage with the residents.

·       Scrutiny must be Member led.

·       Portfolio holders should attend the budget meetings.

·       Processes can be lengthy and repetitious.

·       Scrutiny pool should be larger.

·       Officers should not be defensive and allow Members to help.

·       Working groups should be more frequent

·       Some meetings could take place without officer’s present

·       Questions for officers should be pre-written.

·       Scrutiny was a vital function now we have a cabinet system.

·       Learn from other council’s over budget scrutiny, start budget scrutiny earlier.

Committee is asked to approve its Work Programme, including identifying topics for scrutiny, that will help to achieve the Council’s key priorities and associated objectives.

The Committee resolved that the work programme with The Cost of Living Review being returned for future consideration and Homes for Life suggested by Councillor S J Carr to be added.  

          RESOLVED that the work programme be approved.