Agenda item

Report of the Democratic Services Manager

Members welcomed Councillor Peter Barnes to the meeting to examine the Environment Portfolio.

No questions or areas of concerned had been notified in advance of the meeting so Councillor Barnes started by paying tribute to the hard work and dedication of the Council’s refuse crews who had been delivering a consistent service throughout the covid-19 pandemic. He added that the team was aware of the high numbers of missed bin collections, which were often due to blocked streets, and steps to address this were underway.

With the climate change agenda in mind, Councillor Barnes also acknowledged that that steps needed to be taken to make the Council’s fleet more environmentally friendly, although the very steep hills in the Borough made currently available electric vehicles unsuitable. He added that a national waste and recycling consultation was underway which would lead to future changes in waste operations and officers awaited the outcome of this.

Specifically on recycling rates, Members commented on the difficulty in comparing recycling rates with other areas, particularly where other areas may be more affluent.

Councillor Murray joined the meeting.

Further to the comments made on missed bins, the issue of missed bins due to cars blocking streets was discussed. The Director of Environment, Communities and Leisure added that the issue was currently having a negative effect on the council’s operations as crews were having to return on a different day. There were plans in place to introduce a system of being able to warn registered keepers of vehicles which may lead to a fixed penalty for vehicles that persistently blocked roads. Work was also ongoing with the county council to look at parking controls for some streets where this was appropriate

The issue of HGV driver shortages was discussed. Officers were keeping this under review but currently Gedling was not being negatively affected.

The Committee next went on to discuss the report from the Waste Working Group and the draft waste policy and the Committee was given an overview of proposed the Policy and the work undertaken by the group. The Committee welcomed the draft policy as a useful clarification of the rules and expectations around household waste.

Specifically within the policy, concern was expressed about replacement/new black bins being 180 litres rather than 240. The rationale for this was to encourage more recycling but the Council would always consider requests for larger bins where there was a large family, a medical reason or other exceptional reasons as set out in the draft policy.

Members next discussed the November agenda and specifically the areas that they would like to scrutinise in respect of the Public Protection portfolio. The meeting would also provide the opportunity for the Committee to carry out its statutory duty to examine the Local Community Safety Partnership.
It was decided to concentrate on the following areas/questions:

·         To seek an overview of crime statistics in the Borough

·         Examine CCTV provision, specifically issues around what the council is and isn’t allowed to use it for, what more could be done if additional cameras were installed and how, if at all, the use of CCTV changed in the covid-19 pandemic

·         What further training could be offered to members on safeguarding issues?

·         What was the effect of the increase in drug related crime and so called county lines crime?

RESOLVED to:

1)    Thank Councillor Barnes for his attendance and the information provided;

2)    Refer the work done by the Waste Policy Working Group, and the draft policy, to the October meeting of Cabinet; and

3)    Put forward the topics as discussed to the November agenda for scrutiny of the Crime and Disorder Partnership/Public Protection portfolio area.