To receive any questions relating to items on the Agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.
Note: A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.
Minutes:
Referring to agenda item 7 Mr Warren, Chairman of Willand Parish Council informed the Group that on 7 March 2017 Willand Parish Councillors attended the Environment PDG and asked a number of questions in relation to proposed changes in policy in relation to litter and dog bin provision and emptying.
He said the Chair ruled that the questions would be answered in writing and we have been assured that you have all received a copy of the response which is dated 21 March 2017. This was received after the second time of asking. Is this acceptable?
Do you consider that the questions have been answered to your satisfaction?
The view of Willand Parish Council is that although words have been written after each question they are in the main a considerable example of non-answers. Notes have been made after each alleged answer but I will not take your time in going through them all. Your Chair advised that he did not consider the questions answered properly but asked that we wait to see what was in the report before you today.
Question 3 (a), (b) & (c) refer to costs – none are given but surely there must be an example of cost which could be given – a dog bin is a dog bin. I will try and help. In past times MDDC quoted the Parish Council £400 to supply and fit a dog bin. We did it for £60. Surely members in agreeing to support a policy would need to know costs to assess whether or not there would be savings or the policy would be viable?
The answer to (c) states “We have not identified the cost to offer this service at present. This will be considered and a cost presented to the next PDG to offer to Parish Councils requesting the service.” I cannot find such an answer in the paper before you – can members? There is only one figure mentioned and I doubt if it cost £136,000 to empty a litter bin on Willand Jubilee Field.
Question 6 referred to dual purpose litter/dog bins and a concern that they should not be in fenced play areas. Can you see where this is addressed and clarified in the paper before you? It is not mentioned under 5.0.
Under 1.1 it speaks of working in partnership with local communities. In 2.0 it states that the policy does not suggest public consultation and in answer to question 3 from Councillor Grantham it states “The Manager of the service will be making the final decision on any new installations and there will be no right to appeal as there will have been consultation at an earlier stage.” Which is it to be consultation or no consultation?
Some Parish & Town Councils have taken leases on play areas within their parish or town and these have existing MDDC supplied bins. It is considered that the paper as suggested leaves too many unanswered questions to allow for proper budgeting. Would members consider that some public consultation would be appropriate to give such Parish or Town Councils the opportunity to submit a more clarified policy if officers are unable to do so?
The Waste and Transport Manager informed the Group that his response to Willand Parish Council following the last meeting had been within the 10 days required for responding to letters in the Councils Customer Care Policy. He reminded the Group that the policy before them was a district wide policy and not specific to Willand. Costs for installing and emptying bins would be dependent on many things, such as the location, the base needed and the time required for emptying and these were the reasons why specific costs had not been provided.
Mr Grantham, Willand Parish Councillor, referring to item 7 on the agenda asked if existing bins in areas that had been leased, such as play areas would be affected by the new policy. The Director of Operations assured Mr Grantham that any agreement already in place would not be affected.
It was RESOLVED that a meeting be put in place between Willand Parish Council and the Waste and Transport Manager, to include the local Ward Members, to discuss matters specific to Willand Parish Council.
(Proposed by the Chairman).