Interview with Councillor Ben Sherreard

The Committee welcomed Councillor Ben Sherreard, Cabinet Member for the Environment, to the meeting.  Councillor Sherreard updated the Committee on the Freighter Service which he said was running successfully.  Members questioned the amount of refuse from the Freighter Service going to land fill.  The Cabinet Member explained that everything that could be recycled, including garden waste had now been removed with only bulky items remaining.  Councillor Sherreard moved on to the Best Value Review of Waste and Recycling and the Waste Strategy which was the Council’s first Waste Strategy.  Members were told that the food waste recycling had already peaked at 130 tonnes which demonstrated 70 % participation.  This exceeded the overall recycling target of over 50%.  The Committee was informed that the food waste was composted at Glaze Farm into high grade compost which was given out free of charge to local farmers; it was on its way to achieving a standard of goodness, free from contamination which once achieved would allow for the Council’s ground maintenance teams to use it. Members questioned the measures in place now the recycling target had been met.  The Cabinet Member explained that there was only so much that the authority was responsible for and they were coming to the end of what could be achieved at present. The opportunities for the Waste Strategy now were what was happened next and the example of Glaze farm composting was given.

With regard to street cleaning, Members were told that the way in which feedback was sought had been changed from feedback questionnaires on postcards to the team going out and talking to people in the community which was proving far more successful.  The Council had issued 3,500 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to date and there was a visible improvement in the levels of littering as a result.  The majority of FPNs were paid on time and if pursued to court, there was a 100% success rate.  Members were told that a small number of cases had been dropped and Kent Police had been called to one or two incidents.  Councillor Sherreard told the Committee he was impressed with the team and had received a letter from a member of the public who had been issued a fine to compliment the team on the professional manner the fine had been given. He explained that the fines also helped tackle littering caused by the night time economy. Members queried the types of littering the fines were issued for and whether they included dog fouling.  The Cabinet Member agreed to provide a breakdown of the types of littering the fines had been issued for.  The Committee was informed that the team would soon begin wearing cameras as a means of protecting a person’s safety and to show that there was no intimidation taking place in response to discussions on adverse publicity and feedback surrounding the team.

Members raised questions about tetra pack recycling and suggested that additional facilitates could be located in Council owned car parks in areas where a supermarket is not providing this. 

The Committee praised the improved cleanliness of the borough and were also informed that fly tipping had fallen by 400 incidents over the year.  Members questioned the possibility of the recycling facilities at Tovil being charged for as had been reported in Somerset. Councillor Sherreard informed the Committee that this was not something he was aware of but should it come to light, he would strongly oppose it.

Members raised the issue of air quality hotspots.  The Cabinet Member explained the Action Plan and that there were things that could be done in Maidstone but it was difficult because of the way the town had developed.  He told the Committee that the issues came down to the way in which transport moved through the town.  Councillor Sherreard explained that it was about looking at the issue as a whole within the Core Strategy and Integrated Transport Strategy and not working in silos.  The Committee was informed that the Carbon Management Plan which demonstrated how the Council would achieve a 20% reduction in its own emissions would provide £8.5 Million in savings over the life of the plan.

The Cabinet Member was thanked for attending the meeting.

It was resolved that:

a)  The use of MBC of car parks for recycling facilities should be explored;

b)  Statistics showing a breakdown of the types of littering Fixed Penalty Notices are issued for should be provided to the Committee

c)  There should be a continued engagement with the community to use food waste recycling from the Waste and Recycling Team;

d)  The Committee should be provided with a full list of what is being recycled from the freighter service and what is going to land fill; and

e)  The Committee should be advised on the next steps for the Waste Strategy now the recycling target had been achieved.