Minutes:
The Committee scrutinised the
following matters.
Cabinet Board Proposals
4.1 Street Scene and
Engineering Performance Indicators for Quarter 4 of 2017/18
Members received information on the quarter 4 performance
management data for the period 1st April to 31st March 2018 for Environment, as
detailed in the circulated report.
Members
questioned why the calculation of the Transport and Highways Performance
Indicator had been temporarily suspended. Officers highlighted that they were
unsure, however reassured members that they would look in to it and provide an
update.
4.2 Waste Strategy Update
Members
were informed of the Council’s waste strategy with a view to meeting the next
statutory ‘recycling’ target of 64% in 2019/20 and continuing to make progress
towards the 70% target in 2024/25.
Members
highlighted that there was only 6% difference between the recycling targets for
2019/20 and 2024/25 and asked why was this percentage was so low. Officers
highlighted that the majority of the easy to achieve changes to encourage
recycling had been achieved and that to achieve increased recycling rates /
participation has become more difficult therefore the 6% may seem low, however,
it is a big increase to achieve.
Members
asked officers to confirm how the tailored vehicles for the roll out of
Recycle+ system would work. Officers highlighted that the vehicles are to be
used for primarily for farms and rear lanes throughout the county borough. This
will result in all domestic properties in Neath Port Talbot being on the same
Recycle+ system.
Members
queried whether one truck collects all waste. Officers confirmed that there are
separate vehicles. One collects residual wheelie bin / black bag and green
waste whilst the other collects the recycling.
Members
asked whether those vehicles work together, at the same time. Officers
highlighted that both are in the same area on the same day but not necessarily
at the same time.
Members
asked whether the vehicles that are used could have a weighing system installed
to calculate the amount of weight of each compartment on the recycling trucks.
Officers highlighted that they were unsure, however could make enquiries to the
manufactures around specification.
Members
asked what systems are in place to audit residents recycling waste. Officers
highlighted that participation surveys have been carried out and that staff
report back on homes that present large quantities of waste.
Members
questioned officers on how they encourage other organisations such as Tai Tarian and Coastal to inspire their residents too recycle.
Officers highlighted that they currently work in partnership with Coastal
Housing through enforcement officers and that approaches have been made to Tai Tarian who have not yet taken up that offer.
Members
highlighted whether Green waste could be collected weekly during the summer. It
was noted that this was also raised last year. Officers highlighted green waste
is currently collected in a separate compartment of the refuse vehicles and
that with the current budget restraints it would not be achievable to change
this.
Members
raised concerns as during the summer months the Green waste starts to have an
odour and they are not being picked up regularly. Officers highlighted to
members that the collection of green waste isn’t a statutory requirement,
however, if it is not being picked up when properly presented then members need
to contact the relevant officers.
Some
of the Members raised concern on measure’s 6 & 9 and highlighted that they
could not be in support of the recommendation unless those two measures were
removed.
The
Cabinet Member highlighted that Education is a key priority in this scheme and
if the decision was to be approved then the changes would not be implemented
until April 2019 to allow the public enough time to prepare for the changes.
Members
asked what was being done for the education element of the scheme. Officers
highlighted that there is a communications plan being developed which will
include letter drops, media releases, local radio etc. to highlight these
changes prior to implementation.
It
was highlighted that there were concerns in the community about vermin being
attracted by the changes in recycling. Members highlighted that if recycling is
done in the proper manner then vermin wouldn’t be enticed.
Members
asked whether every resident would receive a letter informing them of the
recycling changes. Officers confirmed that every resident would receive a
letter.
The
Cabinet Members highlighted that Members may wish to take the word ‘Current’
out of measure 7 to make it read more clearly. The scrutiny members were in
favour to do that.
It
was highlighted that on occasions residents could be running businesses from
home, which incurs more waste. Members asked what the difference was between a
household having more children in a home to a household running a small child
minders business as the amount of waste would equal the same amount. Officers
highlighted that it is legislation and not Council Policy that sets out the
differences between domestic and non-domestic waste. Questions were raised
regarding if a resident is running a child minders business from home. Officers
confirmed that this would be classed as a business and any waste produced by
that business would be subject to trade waste charges.
Members
raised concern around the Recycling centres opening hours, due to the 25
minutes queue’s that can occur on weekends. The Cabinet Member highlighted that
the deputy leader had asked members in a previous All Members Seminar to write
in their views on the opening hours. Only two submissions were received, both
in support of the status quo.
Members
asked whether the management of the traffic could be looked at rather than the
opening hours, to prevent queues as the direction of traffic could be more streamlined.
Officers confirmed they would investigate if this was feasible.
Members
asked how much it would cost for the food waste loyalty lottery that was
included in the previous all member seminar on waste. It was highlighted that
it was put forward as a suggestion however upon further investigation this
suggestion did not seem feasible and therefore had not been included as a
proposal.
Members
asked whether there will be education on the new recycling system in schools.
Officers confirmed that there is currently ongoing education on recycling in
schools and could gather feedback to provide to members.
Members
asked whether education on recycling is being taught at all schools. Officers
highlighted that it is easy to engage with Primary school pupils however, more
difficult at Secondary Schools. Members suggested that it be taught through the
Welsh Baccalaureate classes as it’s statutory for all secondary pupils to take
that subject.
Members
highlighted that recycling bins should be installed in rural areas as well as
town centres. Officers highlighted that there is a linked budget for this but
if the scheme is successful may roll out eventually to all areas, dependant on
budget costs.
It
was noted that the current van permit system is being abused with many vans
arriving at the site from neighbouring authorities to use the recycling centre.
Officers highlighted that enforcement officers are currently on site to dter this.
Following scrutiny, it was
agreed that Cabinet Board be asked to consider the following amended
recommendations:
· Measure 1:
Complete roll-out of ‘Recycle+’ kerb-sort recycling collections;
· Measure 2:
Change the current two vehicles dedicated to trade waste recycling to two new
split-back freighter vehicles with bin lifts for trade waste and flats;
· Measure 3:
Introduce an electronic ‘link’ between the Council Tax and Recycling
Services. Similarly, it is proposed to have a link between the Business
Rates Section and the Trade Waste Service;
· Measure 4:
Offer a ‘waste audit’ to the Council’s larger residual waste producing trade
customers to help them recycle more where possible;
· Measure 5:
Change the collection of green waste from single use bags to re-usable sacks,
supplying 2 bags per household with the need, with a charge of £1.00 for
replacement/additional sacks. Green waste will be collected all year
round, but the small amount of green waste collected during the period December
to February would not be kept separate or composted;
· Measure
6: Cease accepting the presentation of side waste alongside wheeled bins,
or more than three black sacks in bag areas;
· Measure
7: Maintain the ‘exemption’ scheme for additional waste where the amount
of non-recyclable waste produced by a household exceeds the permitted wheeled
bin capacity or bag limit;
· Measure
8: Identify and investigate locations where householders may be operating
business from their homes and putting trade waste out for household collection;
· Measure 9:
Increase enforcement activity against residents presenting excess waste where
not covered by the Council’s exemption scheme when the ‘no side waste’
restriction in measure 6 is implemented;
· Measure 10:
Appoint two additional enforcement officers dedicated to enforcing the ‘no side
waste’ policy;
· Measure 11:
Introduce ‘bag splitting’ for residual waste at our HWRCs through the
introduction of residual waste presentation/challenge areas to maximise the
level of diversion of landfill;
· Measure 12:
Maintain current opening hours at our HWRC’s;
· Measure 13:
Close the HWRC at Pwllfawatkin and move to a
replacement higher performing purpose built joint facility with Powys on the
border at Lower Cwmtwrch;
· Measure 14:
Expand and increase the focus of education and awareness raising towards
reducing food waste;
· Measure 15:
Introduce more secure external food waste collection bin for all new and
replacement food bins;
· Measure 16:
Introduce additional recycling litter bins in town centres and other areas of
high foot fall;
· Measure 17:
Change trade collections in Neath Town Centre to once a week in line with Pontardawe and Port Talbot collections. It is also
proposed to change the collection day to improve integration of the trade
service with general recycling collections;
· Measure 18:
Expansion of the re-use shop at Briton Ferry to allow Enfys
to expand service;
·
Measure 19: Introduce checks to van permit requests for
HWRC’s and limit number of permits to 12 per year.
4.3 Proposed
Individual Disabled Parking Place: No. 25 Brytwn
Road, Cymmer
Members
received information on the Legal Orders for the
Implementation
of an Individual Disabled Parking Place (IDPP) bay at No.25 Brytwn
Road, Cymmer.
Members
asked whether double yellow lines could be put in place to prevent other
disabled badge holders to park in individual disabled parking place bays, as it
can be mistaken for a generic disabled parking bay. Officers highlighted that
markings on the road have to comply with the regulations in order for them to
be legally enforced.
Following
scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of the proposal to be considered by the
Cabinet Board