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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

REGENERATION AND SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

TUESDAY 27 APRIL 2010

REPORT OF HEAD OF CHANGE AND SCRUTINY

Report prepared by Esther Bell 

1.           JUNK MAIL REVIEW REPORT

1.1        Issue for Consideration

1.1.1   To consider the Junk Mail Review Report.

1.2        Recommendation of Head of Change and Scrutiny

1.2.1   That the Committee considers and approves the Junk Mail Review Report and its recommendations for submission subject to any amendments made at this meeting.

1.3        Reasons for Recommendation

1.3.1   At the meeting of the Regeneration and Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 26 January 2010, Members agreed to carry out a review of junk mail.  The relevant extract from the minutes of the meeting is as follows:

“A Councillor suggested a one-off review on junk mail as a number of residents had made complaints regarding the amount of unsolicited mailings and menus they had received.  The Committee considered the possible scope of the review, noting possible outcomes could include:

·         A ‘no junk mail’ sticker scheme endorsed by the Council and supported by local businesses; and or

·         Revisions to the Council’s website to include information about opportunities to reduce unsolicited mails, such as advertising the Mailing Preference Service. 

The Committee felt that it would be useful to interview business representatives, including; Town Centre Management and the Chamber of Commerce.  Members also suggested that it may be useful to interview a representative from the Post Office to discuss unaddressed mailings delivered by Postman.  A number of Members felt that given the economic climate it was not prudent to introduce a costly scheme, however the Committee felt a cost effective scheme could be introduced, such as a tear off sticker below existing recycling stickers distributed by the Council.  The Committee felt there was scope for a one off review and agreed to add it to its work programme.  Members agreed to collate any junk mail they received in the next two months to inform the Committee’s findings.”

1.3.2   The Committee interviewed representatives from the Direct Marketing Association, Town Centre Management and Stop Junk Mail Campaign at an informal meeting on 23 March 2010.

1.3.3   The draft report draws together the evidence obtained at the informal meeting and in desktop research.  

Report to Follow

1.4        Alternative Action and why not Recommended

1.4.1   The Committee could decide not to approve the recommendations within the Junk Mail Review Report, however these are based on evidence as outlined in the report. 

1.5        Impact on Corporate Objectives

1.5.1   The Council’s Strategic Plan 2009-12 priority themes include “a place that is clean and green” and its Environmental Excellence and Climate Change three year objective includes ‘supporting better cleaning, waste minimisation and recycling’.

1.6        Other Implications

1.6.1