Agenda item

To consider the reports of the Cabinet Member for Environment.

13.1    The Chair welcomed Anthony Hunter, Kristine Stokes and Steve Wightman, Account Director of Amey, to the meeting who provided an overview of the Grounds Crew Supervision report. 

13.2    Mr Wightman acknowledged that Members had previously expressed concern on how the service was supervised and that, since then, Amey had undertaken a review of its operations and had taken on a full-time manager. He advised that this manager (Kristine Stokes) had been appointed in October and had strengthened the management team. He further stated that this had freed up other operational managers/supervisors.

13.3    Mr Wightman outlined the audit regime at Amey and their attempts to maintain a safety culture. He restated that their key focus was both customers and staff. He further outlined his view that this had had a positive impact in that all staff wore PPE and that concerns were being addressed through measures such as gate checks on vehicles and random inspections.

13.4    Councillor Pullen raised the previous issue that managers were not able to get out into the community to supervise and conduct quality assurance and questioned whether there would be improvements in this area. Mr Wightman responded by stating that two new appointments were made so that operational managers could supervise. He advised that, while operatives knew that supervisors would attend, they did not know when this would occur.

13.5    Councillor Hilton highlighted concerns a number of residents had expressed over the recent disruption to waste collection and informed the Committee that Members had received considerable contact from the public. He stated that the recent snow was not unexpected and questioned who approved the rescheduling of collections – whether it was an officer of the Council or Amey. He further enquired whether the Cabinet Member for Environment was consulted.

13.6    Mr Wightman stated that the bank holidays had always led to revised schedules. He advised that the operational plan was developed in the summer which was then prepared and agreed in the autumn  in consultation with the Cabinet Member and Officers of the Council. The Cabinet Member had received a number of briefings also. Mr Wightman also stated that the situation had been compounded by staff absence over the Christmas period. Councillor Cook, the Cabinet Member for Environment, advised that it was also a significantly more difficult operation because there was a considerably greater volume of recycling than previous years.

13.7    With regards to safety, Councillor Hilton asked whether Amey provided staff with PPE such as boots and shoes and whether these were readily available. Mr Wightman confirmed that all operatives were required to wear PPE and did so.

13.8    Councillor Melvin stated that there had been weather warnings and, in fact, there had been less snow than expected. She shared her view that shoes specifically to deal with ice would have stopped slipping and would have saved money. She further stated that, in her view, the wrong people were the target of public anger and that in future there should be an Amey helpline to deal with enquiries rather than the Council.

13.9    Mr Wightman stated that Gloucester did mobilise at the initial point of disruption and that Officers were looking at an Amey helpline. He highlighted to the Committee that staff and the public must be kept safe and if it was decided that it was too dangerous to operate, he would support that decision. He stated that he would be particularly uncomfortable if there was an accident. Councillor Melvin stated that Members felt the same but that Amey should have been liaising with the County Council on the gritting of roads.

13.10  Councillor Hampson stated that he was sympathetic with the decisions made regarding safety but enquired as to whether there were specific staffing issues during the period. Mr Wightman responded that he had been aware that there had been difficulties with recruitment and retention previously but that this had improved and there were no staffing issues at present.

13.11  Councillor Pullen shared his view that the decision to suspend collections was the correct on the basis of safety. He stated that Christmas was the busiest time of year for waste management and that it appeared Amey did plan for extra waste but he questioned the apparent lack of contingency for the possibility of poor weather and that there appeared to be no plan for such an eventuality.

13.12  Mr Wightman highlighted that Amey did recognise that there would be additional waste and that there were additional vehicles as well as other resources. In response to Councillor Pullen’s intervention questioning why 16 streets in his ward still hadn’t had their rubbish collected, Mr Wightman stated that residual recycling had almost been completed and that they were catching up. Councillor Ryall questioned whether the same result would be seen next Christmas and Mr Wightman advised that Amey would be learning lessons and preparing contingency better.

13.13  The City Improvement and Environment Manager, Meyrick Brentnall, introduced the report on the Grounds Maintenance Schedule. He outlined that there had previously been issues around areas of open spaces not having grass cut. He advised that reassessing this was the first total re-appraisal of open spaces in the city. He continued by informing the Committee that the Council and Amey had attempted to make the current regime more efficient and that the service would be better managed.

13.14  Councillor Wilson welcomed aspects of the new arrangements, particularly the increased levels of strimming. He questioned, however, what other models of operation were being examined. Mr Brentnall advised that all options were open and that various proposals would come forward.

13.15  Councillor Hilton highlighted the fact that the contract was first agreed in 2007 and that the Cabinet Member for Environment had previously stated that it was one of the worst contracts he had seen. He expressed concern that 2022 (the year the contract would expire) was a considerable time away and queried whether the Cabinet Member would consider establishing a new service by 2020 or whether the Council would consider ending the contract sooner.

13.16  The Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Cook, advised that the contract did not allow for unilateral withdrawal and were this to happen, the Council would face the possibility of having to pay damages. He further advised that penalties would go live in 2018.

13.17  Councillor Pullen stated that he was pleased to see consultation with a number of members of staff. He expressed concern that poor pay for workers would result in a poor service. In response, Mr Wightman stated that Amey was investing £1m in development, would be taking on new apprentices and had reviewed the pay package. Councillor Pullen further queried whether the pay review had resulted in an increase in staff to which Mr Wightman responded that he was not aware of any vacancies and that Amey was looking at fixed term contracts.

13.18  Councillor Hampson expressed concern over health and safety as well as the quality of work that had been undertaken. He also queried the level of supervision that had been undertaken. Anthony Hunter of Amey advised that the City had been divided into four geographical parts which allowed one team member to oversee one area with an additional support member with general oversight. As such, he continued, supervisors had one point of contact for the relevant area. Mr Brentnall advised that the Council had some oversight also.

13.19  Councillor Melvin stated that she accepted the point made by the Cabinet Member. She highlighted that Liverpool Council had come to a mutual withdrawal arrangement.

13.20  RESOLVED: That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee note the Supervision of the Grounds Crew and Grounds Maintenance Schedule reports.