Agenda item
Streetcare - Current Service Delivery & Recovery Planning
Minutes:
Members
were provided with an overview of the current service position in Streetcare and how service delivery was proceeding as the
Council moved towards the recovery phase from the coronavirus emergency.
Officers
presented the Committee with a graph of COVID related absence in the Streetcare service area, contained within Appendix A of the
circulated report. It was highlighted that COVID related absences were required
to be recorded and collated on a weekly basis, which Officers had been doing
since 13 March 2020. The graph illustrated how the COVID absences had varied
and in particular, how the rate of absences was progressing towards the end of
March before lockdown was then introduced. As evident in the graph, it was
stated that the biggest element associated with COVID absences for Streetscare was those shielding which now made up the
majority of absences. However, it was noted that the next review for those
shielding was due on 16 August 2020, with letters due to be sent out the week
before that, which would provide a better understanding of the impact.
Following
this, the Committee was presented with the Streetcare
service delivery position, contained within Appendix B of the circulated
report, which covered the A-Z of services within the Streetcare
remit. Officers briefly went through some of the comments on the existing
status and updated Members where necessary.
In
relation to beach cleansing, it was mentioned that the service was operating as
normal, however more resources were being utilised as the service was trying to
keep up with the clearing up of waste due to more people were visiting the
beach and not disposing of their rubbish.
Members
were informed that the recycling centres opened on 26 May 2020 with a booking
system introduced in which the public could book a 15 minute time slot to drop
off their recycling. It was noted that the system was working very well, and
that other Councils across Wales were thinking of keeping their booking systems
in place for the future. Officers highlighted that Neath Port Talbot Council
could also look into keeping their booking system in place.
The
Committee were made aware that the £1million street lighting project was going
ahead, in which more LED lighting would be introduced and the high energy
consumption lights would be removed. It was mentioned the contract started the
week commencing 13 July 2020 and the contractor had started to complete the
electrical testing before lights start to be replaced.
It
was highlighted that recycling and waste collection was an area that the Streetcare service had prioritised, with staff working very
hard over the lockdown period to keep the service going and to deal with the
increase of waste and recycling that had been generated.
Stores
and purchasing was mentioned to have played an important role in helping with
PPE and equipment, not only for the Environment Directorate but also assisting
other areas across the Council.
Officers
explained that tree maintenance had an additional service pressure to cut back
overgrown trees along highways due to additional double decker buses, as a lot
of the single decker bus routes had been changed to double. It was noted that a
lot of work had to be completed in a short period of time to make those routes
safe for the public.
Members
were informed that waste enforcement was up and running, but there was a 72
hour delay before opening bags of waste as it now needed to be a much more
measured and calculated process due to the virus. It was also mentioned that
due to the ban of the public using the Council buildings, PACE interviews had
not been carried out, however staff were currently looking into arrangements to
utilise the facilities in Neath Civic Centre so that the interviews could be
continued.
In
relation to land and highway drainage development control, it was stated that
Mike Roberts and Dave Griffiths would be reviewing the land drainage
enforcement function to identify if it would be better placed, for efficiency,
with the highways and drainage section. It was noted that following the review,
the necessary procedures would take place for the function to move if required.
The
main issue affecting services was noted to be the ‘three in cab’ issue; set out
in a report on the precautionary principle, it was moved so that no more than
two operatives could be in a cab, with most other Councils in Wales putting the
same procedures in place. In terms of waste collection, this meant that the
third operative needed to be in another vehicle which was stated to have had a
significant impact on resources available for other service areas; however it
was noted that the positive factor from this had been the maintenance of the
critical waste collection service, throughout the lockdown period. Officers
stated that with the easing of lockdown restrictions and more services opening
back up, the demands on internal resources were getting higher which meant
limited resources for certain service areas such as grass cutting, fly tipping
removal and litter picking. In conclusion, Officers stated that they were in
communication with the Trade Unions to identify whether three operatives could
be put in a cab which would relieve the resources; however, it was stated that
ensuring safety of staff was the upmost important factor, therefore risk
assessments and mitigation measures would need to be reviewed.
Members
asked whether the service had received many complaints regarding herbicide
treatment, to which Officers answered that they had not but had a few inquiries
earlier on in the season, in relation to the use of pesticides and roadside
verges. Following the inquiry regarding roadside verges and how they had been
managed, Officers stated that they were in discussion with colleagues in
Planning and Biodiversity about expanding the number of verges that were
managed by biodiversity. It was added that it had become harder to supervise
contractors and provide resources to herbicide treatment due to the virus.
Officers
were asked whether operators at recycling centres would be provided with any
form of shelter, following observations that there wasn’t currently any shelter
for them from the rain and cold weather. It was noted that the contractor was
satisfied with the welfare arrangements for staff through the summer, however
there was a new contract due to start on 1 October 2020 which included a booth
for operatives at the entrance of the centres.
Members
showed interest in viewing the data from RDF waste and recycling during the
lockdown period. It was mentioned that Members will receive figures in an
upcoming quarterly performance report, which will show waste figures and the
impact that COVID has had on those figures. Officers stated that from looking
back at last years figures (2019/20) compared to the
data that they had recently been collating, they were aware that COVID has had
an impact on the figures since March 2020. It was added that the Quarterly
performance report will provide an overall picture as well as being able to
look into each individual impact.
A
discussion took place in relation to clothes waste and the benefits of reusing
clothes by taking them to shops or using Cash for Clothes instead of recycling.
It was mentioned that it was particularly important to spread awareness of the
benefit of reusing as there had been an increase in the number of people
wanting to get rid of clothes.
Following
scrutiny, it was agreed that the report be noted.
The
Committee thanked the Streetcare service for all their
hard work during the COVID 19 crisis and asked Mike Roberts, Head of Streetcare, to pass the message onto the his teams.
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