Agenda item

To follow.

E.56/21

Consideration was given to a report that presented a range of options to identify whether or not it would be possible to restore the garden waste collection service in the short term or to provide a single collection for all residents ahead of the winter.

During discussion, the following points were raised:

(a)   It was noted that the report that underpinned this agenda item was published just before this Executive meeting had started due to alternative solutions being sought right up until the last minute;

(b)   A number of Members expressed their upset, reluctance and disappointment that they were being asked to continue the suspension of garden waste collections until Spring 2022;

(c)   Members acknowledged that a one-off collection of garden waste by FCC Environment would unfortunately result in significant additional disruption to the statutory residual and recycling collections;

(d)   The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee highlighted the presentation delivered by FCC representatives at its meeting held on 13 October 2021 and the totally unsatisfactory responses that were provided by the representatives to Member questions.  The Member proceeded to highlight the public perception that the Council was not being sufficiently robust in its dealings with FCC and reminded the meeting that the delivery of a garden waste collection service was part of their contractual obligations;

(e)   Members recognised that the shortage of qualified HGV drivers was a national problem and that a number of other local authorities were experiencing similar issues.  Notwithstanding this issue, a Member also expressed the view that FCC Environment had woefully underestimated the number of drivers and operatives that it would require to deliver the new service;

(f)   The tireless work of all Members on the front line dealing with multiple constituent complaints and the lead officers who were trying to deliver service improvements were recognised;

(g)   An additional recommendation was PROPOSED and SECONDED that read as follows:

‘That delegated authority be granted to the Director for Customer Service and Delivery, in consultation with the Leader of Council and the lead Executive Member, to produce a letter to be sent on behalf of the Executive to all residents in the South Hams that provides an update on the waste and recycling collection service.’

In discussion on the addition, Members felt that it was now right and proper for the Council to write to all of its residents setting out the current position and, when put to the vote, the addition was declared CARRIED;

(h)   At this point, Members wished to discuss the exempt minute of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on 13 October 2021.  As a result, it was PROPOSED and SECONDED and when put to the vote declared CARRIED:

RESOLVED

That in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business as the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Act is involved.

The Executive then considered and discussed the view of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting (as set out at Exempt Appendix A to these minutes) and reached an agreed conclusion.

It was then PROPOSED and SECONDED and when put to the vote declared CARRIED that the press and public be re-admitted to the meeting.

It was then:

RESOLVED

1.    That the Executive has considered the range of options (as set out in section 4 of the published agenda report) and agrees to continue the suspension of garden waste collections until Spring 2022;

2.    That a further report be produced by the Director for Customer Service and Delivery (to be presented to the next Executive meeting to be held on 2 December 2021) on future options; and

3.    That delegated authority be granted to the Director for Customer Service and Delivery, in consultation with the Leader of Council and the lead Executive Member, to produce a letter to be sent on behalf of the Executive to all residents in the South Hams that provides an update on the waste and recycling collection service.

(NOTE: THESE DECISIONS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MINUTES E.51/21 PART 4 AND E.53/21 PARTS 1 AND 2 (WHICH ARE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD ON 25 NOVEMBER 2021) WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE FROM 5.00PM ON MONDAY, 25 OCTOBER 2021 UNLESS CALLED IN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SCRUTINY PROCEDURE RULE 18).