Minutes:
The
Committee selected the following items for Scrutiny:
3.1 Household Waste Recycling Centre Opening
Hours
Members
considered a report that was a review of the changes to the opening hours of
the Council’s Household Waste and Recycling Centres.
Members
stated that they understood that there is a clear priority for the Council to
meet recycling targets and the centres are a key part of the process. Members
suggested that the revised opening hours are not meeting the need and demand to
recycle. Officers stated that the revisions had been introduced to assist the
Department in making savings as part of the Council’s Forward Financial Plan.
A
question was asked on how many Fixed Penalty Notices had been issued in
relation to fly tipping. Officers stated that notices are generally issued to
small scale fly tipping and confirmed that during 2016/2017 43 cases were
successfully pursued through the courts.
Information
was requested as to who FCC Environmental were and what it cost the Council to
have them manage the waste sites. Officers confirmed they were a private sector
company that was paid approximately £1.2m which also covered the landfill tax
payments.
Members
suggested that there has been an increase in the cases of flytipping
offices responded by stating that initially there had been an increase but this
had now subsided.
Members
requested that the officers review the opening hours and report back at a later
date The Committee agreed that the review should consider three revised options
that should include full costings:
a.
Open all sites between 10am and 6pm
b.
Open all sites between 8am and 6.30pm during the summer months
c.
One centre opens until 8pm on a rolling rota
Officers
stated that there would be a full review of the waste strategy undertake in due
course and all Member Seminars would be held in November 2017 and March 2018
that would highlight to Members the changes and would include a wide range of
information including costings.
Following
scrutiny the report was noted.
3.2
Review of Pest Control Fees and Charges
Members
considered a report that sought agreement to increase the fees and charges in
relation to the delivery of Pest Control to assist in the achievement of
savings.
Officers
advised that this was in relation to reducing subsidies rather than cutting
services and Members should be aware that some Councils
in Wales have ceased to offer this service.
Members
stated that the 50% proposed rise in fees would result in more problems as
residents would fail to report incidents because of the prohibitive cost.
An
alternative recommendation was proposed for consideration by Members. It was
suggested that the increase in price should be £8 (£15 for out of hours) for
domestic requests and the outcomes would be reviewed after a 12 month period.
It was agreed that the original price increase proposed for commercial
organisations remains.
Following
scrutiny the Committee agreed that the alternative recommendations be taken
forward to Cabinet Board for consideration.
3.3
Streetscene and Engineering Performance Indicators
for Quarter 1 of 2017/2018
Members
considered the quarterly performance management data for the first quarter of
2017/2018.
Members
raised concern in relation to the figures in relation to clearing a reported
fly tipping incident within 5 working days. Officers stated that this issue was
subject to ongoing discussions with Welsh Government because if an incident is
reported and a notice is issued then this automatically results in a 10 day
waiting period. Officers further confirmed however, that incidents are not left for
months before being removed.
A
question was asked on how many agency drivers/workers are used across the
department. Officers stated that this information would need to be collated and
would be reported back to the committee. Further information was requested on
how many drivers the Council has trained as Class 2 drivers.
Further
information was requested in relation to staffing costs and the Committee asked
for information to be reported back specifically on:
·
Staffing costs for weekend collections which would need to distinguish
between those as a result of bank holdays;
·
Costs to the department to revisit areas where collections have been
missed.
Members
requested an updated list of responsibilities for the Directorate by Head of
Service so that they can understand the issues facing each section.
Members
questioned the information contained within the report in relation to reduction
is staff and officers confirmed that the only section with a net reduction of
staff last year was within the Engineering and Transport Department.
Following
scrutiny the report was noted.