Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chairman for the municipal year 2015/16.

RESOLVED that Cllr R F Radford be elected Chairman of the Group for the municipal year 2015/16.

Cllr Radford then took the Chair.

To elect a Vice Chairman for the municipal year 2015/16

RESOLVED that Cllr D R Coren be elected Vice Chairman of the Group for the municipal year 2015/16.

To receive any apologies for absence and notices of appointment of substitute Members (if any).

There were no apologies.

To receive any questions relating to items on the Agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.

There were no members of the public present.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting of the Group.

The Minutes of the last meeting were approved as a correct record and SIGNED by the Chairman.

To receive any announcements that the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman had no announcements to make.

The Group to receive a report from the Head of Finance regarding the implementation of the new Waste and Recycling Scheme.

The Group had before it a report * from the Head of Finance regarding the new Refuse and Recycling Collection Scheme which was being implemented in two phases during 2015. 

The report provided an update on the plans for the roll out as well as the budget.

The Head of Finance explained that the roll out for the first part of the changes had started and that almost 10,000 boxes for the collection of cardboard had been delivered.  The first stage involved the addition to the existing collection service of mixed plastics and cardboard. The number of phone calls received by Customer Services had been low which indicated that the communication leaflets had been successful. He explained that the service changes had been necessary in order to enhance the collection service for the customer and to make savings.  It was anticipated that the new scheme would bring savings of 20% to the Waste budget.

The Waste and Transport Manager explained that the project team were now working on phase two.  This part of the scheme involved the weekly collection of food waste from a caddy and a chargeable service for the collection of garden waste.

Discussion took place regarding:

·         The green boxes could be stacked and cardboard could be collected damp so a lid was not being supplied;

·         Devon County Council were the waste disposal authority, so they held the contract for where the food waste and garden waste would be processed.  The food waste and garden waste would continue to go to the In-Vessel Composter at Broadpath Landfill Site until March 2017 when the contract notice period would be complete;

·         The risk that fly-tipping would increase when charges for garden waste were introduced. The Waste and Transport Manager informed the group that this had not been the case in other authorities where a charge had been implemented but would be monitored;

·         The amount that customers would be charged had been set at an amount that was lower than the cost of running the service with the anticipated participation rate;

·         That a customer could transfer their bin within the District if they moved house but there would be no refunds;

·         The sale of sacks for those that could not accommodate a bin, or did not require a regular service.

It was RECOMMENDED to the Cabinet that:

a.     The annual charge for fortnightly collections of Garden Waste from a 240L bin be set at £47.00.

(Proposed by Cllr R Evans and seconded by Cllr J D Squire)

b.     The annual charge for fortnightly collections of Garden Waste from a 140L bin be set at £35.00.

(Proposed by Cllr R Evans and seconded by Cllr Mrs E J Slade)

c.      The charge for sacks be set at £13.00 for a roll of 10.

(Proposed by Cllr J D Squire and seconded by Cllr Mrs R Berry)

d.     Subject to the change of wording from ‘purchase’ to ‘subscribe’ in 3.4, and clarification regarding where sacks could be purchased from, the Terms and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To receive a report of the Head of Communities and Governance providing Members with an update on performance against the corporate plan and local service targets for 2014/15 as well as providing an update on the key business risks.

The Group had before it and NOTED a report* of the Head of Communities and Governance providing Members with an update on performance against the Corporate Plan and local service targets for the 2014/15 financial year as well as providing an update on the key business risks. 

Discussion took place regarding missed collections which had been high during quarter one when the route optimisation project took place but had subsequently returned to normal levels.

Note: - Report previously circulated and copy attached to Minutes.

The Group to consider bylaws regarding sky lanterns. Councillor Mrs N Woollatt has requested that following approval of her motion number 515 at Council on 29 April 2015 the Group further consider the implementation of bylaws.

Councillor Mrs N Woollatt had requested that following approval of her motion number 515 at Council on 29 April 2015 the Group further consider the implementation of bylaws.

The Public Health Manager explained that if a new bylaw was to be implemented it would need to be inserted within the existing bylaws.  The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) had implied that if this were to be the case the existing bylaw would have to be updated. He also explained that evidence would need to be provided to show that there was a specific local problem with sky lanterns.

Discussion took place regarding:

·         The lack of evidence to suggest that there was a problem within Mid Devon;

·         How a bylaw would be enforced and the cost involved with this;

·         The cost of implementing the bylaw by replacing signage within parks and open spaces;

·         The cost of officer time to re-write the bylaws;

·         The fact that the bylaw would only be for Council owned land and the difficulties in proving where the lantern was released from.

It was RESOLVED that:

A press release be issued, in time for the summer festival period, to promote awareness of the problems caused by sky lanterns.

(Proposed by Cllr N Woollatt and seconded by Cllr R Wright)

To receive a report of the Head of Finance presenting the revenue and capital outturn figures for the financial year 2014/15.

The Group had before it a report of the Head of Finance presenting the revenue and capital outturn figures for the financial year 2014/15.

The Officer outlined the report, highlighting the overall overspend of £90K. He informed Members that this overspend included the one off relocation of the recycling services and redundancy costs.

Areas reporting to this PDG included car parks which had ended under budget due to some planned maintenance of amenity car parks not taking place.  These works would be done in the coming year.

Waste was over budget due to problems earlier in the financial year with the route optimisation project and maintenance of the aged fleet.  These problems had been resolved and new vehicles were now in use and in addition included the transfer of recycling to its new Tiverton depot.

The Head of Finance concluded that he considered the end of year results showed a healthy position but with this came a warning that there were likely to be further budget cuts over the next three to four years.

The Group RESOLVED to offer congratulations to the Council Tax Service for the rates they had achieved.

Note: - Report previously circulated and copy attached to Minutes.

To agree the composition of the Car Parking Working Group.

A Working Group regarding Car Parking had been formed in the previous municipal year but had not completed its task. It was therefore necessary to agree a new membership to this Group. 

It was RESOLVED that the Car Parking Working Group consist of Councillors J D Squire, R Wright, Mrs R Berry and Mrs C Daw.

It was AGREED that the Group continue to meet at 2.00pm.

Performance and Risk

Financial Monitoring

Corporate Asbestos Policy

Planning for Waste Storage

Note: This item is limited to 10 minutes.  There should be no discussion on the items raised.

Performance and Risk

Financial Monitoring

Corporate Asbestos Policy

Planning for Waste Storage

Crediton Air Quality Monitoring