Agenda item

To receive the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment that reviews the current charging regime in place in respect of the Councils Garden Waste Collection Service and proposes changes that will properly recover the cost of delivering such a service whilst being mindful of ongoing financial challenges.

The Chair welcomed Councillor Cook (Cabinet Member for Environment) and Lloyd Griffiths (Head of Neighbourhood Services) to present the report proposing an increase in charges related to garden waste collection.

Councillor Cook updated the Committee that the proposal was to increase the yearly charge from £36 a year to £42 a year in 2017/2018 and then to £44 a year in 2018/2019. He outlined that there would be concessionary pricing of £24 in 2017/2018 and of £26 in 2018/2019. He explained that the reason for the increase was that there had been no increase in the charge since the scheme was introduced in 2011 and that increasing the charge would assist the Council in off-setting the cost of its single biggest contract, the Streetcare contract. He also stated that should the popularity of the scheme continue to rise then additional resources would be needed to continue to deliver the service.

Councillor Lewis asked what effect ceasing to deliver the service altogether would have on staffing levels, costs and impact on landfill. Councillor Cook stated there was no intention to cease delivery of the service and that he couldn’t comment on the effect on staffing were the scheme to stop, as Amey managed the staffing of the scheme.

Councillor Haigh stated that the scheme had originally been intended to be cost neutral and that the Cabinet had not made it clear with this report that the cost increase was to generate additional revenue. She referred to the increase in the charges as a discretionary tax. Councillor Cook disagreed with Councillor Haigh’s comments and stated that he had looked into the matter prior to the meeting and that in no area had it stated that the scheme would remain cost neutral. He said he did not see it as a tax, as this was a service that the Council did not have to provide.

Councillor Hawthorne asked for clarification regarding paragraph 5.1 of the report, which he said suggested that the scheme could not be put on hiatus during winter due to the terms of the contract with Amey. Lloyd Griffiths explained that the scheme used crews paid for by the Streetcare Contract, and to remove the garden waste collection service for a part of the year would not meet the savings targets of the Council. Councillor Hawthorne clarified that he was not suggesting an either/or situation but asking if it would be possible to increase the cost, as well as reducing collections during the winter months.  Councillor Morgan expressed the view that it would be difficult for Amey to decommission vehicles and staff for part of the year but that this would be for Amey to manage. He also stated that he didn’t view a winter hiatus as wise, as it could lead to confusion for the public and many people used the service year round. Councillor Hampson said that some local authorities had reduced the service in the winter, due to reduction in use, so to do so would not be an unprecedented move. Councillor H. Norman said that many households used the service during January to dispose of Christmas trees, so a collection in January would be needed. Lloyd Griffiths said that if the scheme were to be suspended during the winter months, he expected there to be a corresponding reduction in scheme membership and as such this was not a current proposal.

Councillor Hilton stated that when he had spoken to a previous Councillor, who was on the group which formulated the scheme, he had been informed that the scheme was not designed to make money. Councillor Hilton stated that in his opinion it was clear that the Administration were attempting to maximise revenue. He suggested that the Council should be promoting composting to residents rather than monetising garden waste collection. Councillor Cook reiterated that the scheme had not been formulated to be revenue neutral and that the contract with Amey cost £64 million a year and these costs needed to be ameliorated where possible and increasing the garden waste collection charge would help to achieve this.

Councillor Haigh stated that the report was not clear that the aims of the charge increase were to offset the costs of the Amey contract and that the aim should be stated in the report’s resolutions. Councillor Cook highlighted that paragraph 8 of the report clearly stated that any surplus generated would contribute towards offsetting the contract cost.

The Chair thanked Councillor Cook and Lloyd Griffiths for their presentation.

RESOLVED- That the report be noted.