Minutes:
Question from Councillor Adams
“Can the Council please advise on its commitment to tree planting across the Borough, during the remainder of this Council?”
Response from Councillor Clarke, Leader of the Council
“This administration is committed to planting trees, and the Gedling Plan sets out our ambition to plant 500 UK native trees across the Borough each year to mark the lead up to the 50th Anniversary of the creation of Gedling Borough.
In 2019/20 a total of 660 new trees were planted, and in 2020/21 a further 1,040 trees were planted. These were in various sites including Arnot Hill Park, King George V, Burton Road Jubilee Park, Willow Park, Thackeray’s Lane, Arno Vale Recreation Ground, Carlton Hill Recreation Ground, and Gedling Country Park.
This year we have already created a Community Orchard at Gedling Country Park, and we have committed to:
- a 2-3 year ‘Green Lung’ project that will see further proposed tree planting at Digby Park [4 acres] along a green corridor footpath route to Arnold Lane and beyond
- planting a Memorial Woodland in Gedling Country Park. [6 acres]”
In response to a supplementary question about the lack of trees in the area between Front Street and Arnold Leisure Centre, Councillor Clarke advised that trees had been planted at Arnold Market and it was envisaged that there would be more around the new market once building works were completed. He added that if there were any suggestions for suitable sites these would be forwarded to officers. We have planted more trees near the Gedling Access Road as so many trees were removed for the construction.
Question from Councillor Sam Smith
“Can the council please confirm its commitment to becoming carbon net zero?”
Response from Councillor Payne Deputy Leader
“In November 2019, Gedling Borough Council (GBC) declared a climate emergency, alongside which a pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030 was made.
To mitigate carbon emissions and improve the borough’s resilience to a changing climate, a new Carbon Management Strategy and Action Plan has been created, which is being presented to Cabinet tomorrow for approval to go to public consultation.
This strategy outlines GBC’s commitment and ambition to show leadership in becoming carbon net zero.
To further support this we are currently recruiting a Climate Change Officer who will take up post shortly and help deliver the action plan.
We are under no assumption and realise that everyone is involved in this ambition, the Council, local businesses, the third sector and our residents, everyone has a part to play in this.”
In response to a supplementary question on whether the forthcoming carbon strategy covered council operations or the Borough as a whole, Councillor Payne replied that in November 2019 Gedling Borough Council declared a climate emergency alongside which pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030 was also made. The plan recognises that this is not just down to Council, it is about local businesses, the third sector, our residents, community groups such as the fantastic Gedling Climate Group.
Question from Councillor Martin Smith
“Can the council confirm its progress on moving its fleet to zero carbon vehicles?”
Response from Councillor Payne, Deputy Leader
“Fleet vehicle technology is moving forward rapidly. As a Council we have adopted the eco-stars scheme for our fleet, which aims on using cleaner fuels and technologies by embedding green criteria in the fleet procurement process to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants. It rates the performance of individual vehicles and a fleet’s overall operation using star ratings, and each member receives a tailored ‘road map’ to ensure their vehicles are running as efficiently and economically as possible. We scored the top rating of 5 stars when last assessed.
We are currently trialling ultra and low emission vehicles such as electric (EVs) pavement sweepers, and hybrid vehicles as an alternative to diesel and petrol.
When the time is right and funding is made available, we will look to convert our current vehicle fleet to electric or another green fuel type such as hydrogen. The Nottinghamshire Waste Partner Group has set up a ‘Fleet Procurement Internal Group’ to look at this issue and they are meeting at regional and local level to discuss Green Fleet procurement steps across the whole of Nottinghamshire to ensure we are prepared in time for the 2030 deadline.”
In response to a supplementary question about whether the council intended to take steps to improve the green credentials of the vehicles it licenses Councillor Payne replied that it was essential to look at the private sector including working with our licensed vehicles through our licensing role. We all have to play our part in this because we as Gedling Borough Council are unable to achieve that commitment on our own.
Question from Councillor Elliott
“What determines the size of a bin a resident/household gets?”
Response from Councillor Clarke, Leader of the Council
“Gedling Borough Council has a legal duty under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to collect household waste. Section 46 of the Act relates to what local authorities can require in terms of receptacles for household waste including bin size and access to bins. Local Authorities are required to meet higher recycling and composting targets under UK laws and can be penalised if they fail to meet these targets. These changes are designed to increase the level of household recycling and composting, thereby reducing the amount of waste incinerated or thrown into landfills.
To support the achievement of these targets Gedling Borough Council are replacing the generic 240L that were previously provided to properties with bins that are size appropriate to each household. Households with up to three residents are entitled to a 180L size bin which equates to 60L per person, a capacity which has been calculated as adequate in accordance with research undertaken by industry organisations such as WRAP. [Waste and Resources Action Programme Charity]
To achieve this we are gradually replacing bins with the appropriate sizes as and when bins need replacing, as rolling this out in one go is a resource and budget demand that cannot be managed whilst still delivering current service levels. Therefore when a resident requires a bin replacement due to damage for example they will receive a replacement bin that is relevant to their capacity needs.
The number of residents residing in a given property determine the bin size:
Households with 1 - 3 people get a 180ltr bin as standard.
Households with 4 - 5 people get a 240ltr bin as standard.
Households with 6 - 7 people get 2 x 180ltr bins as standard
Households with 8 or more get 2 x 240ltr bins as standard.
The residual bin requirement will change in line with family size, and residents are able to make requests for an extra or larger bin through both the website and our Customer Services team.
Requests for additional recycling or glass bins can also be made via the website or customer services team.”
Question from Councillor Helen Greensmith
“Can the Portfolio Holder for Finance confirm what percentage of the whole UK Pet Cremation market the Cabinet expected to acquire in the first year when launching the service?”
Response from the Deputy Leader, Michael Payne
“Thank you for this question, which was previously answered at the Overview and Scrutiny committee.
The Pet cremation service was never intended to operate as a UK ‘National Service’. Instead it was aimed at the local Nottinghamshire market with an ambition to achieve 8.5% market share by engaging with local veterinary services, who euthanize pets on a daily basis. This equated to 34 pets per week, which is not an unrealistic figure considering we were also targeting the border overlaps into Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire.
This is also set in the context of published data that suggests 90% of pets nationally are cremated, and there are 9.0m dogs and 10.9m cats in the UK.
The original market plan identified that there were 9 veterinary practices listed on the vet directory within Gedling, and around 40 in the wider Nottingham area, many with more than one branch.
Research identified that approximately 50 pet cadavers were sent for cremation per week by veterinary services in the borough. One veterinary practice alone reported sending 25 – 30 cadavers for cremation per week across its Nottinghamshire branches.”
Councillor Greensmith asked a supplementary question asking about how unrealistic forecasting could have been misleading for Members. Councillor Payne replied that he had not mislead the Council. He added that he had already answered the question at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that the issue with setting up the pet cremation service was difficult, that it hadn’t been perfect from the outset, but that it was the right ambition of the council to try and intervene to prevent residents paying high costs for pet cremation services.