Agenda item

Report of the Head of Environment and Public Realm - Waste Collection - Proposed New Charges

Minutes:

The Head of Environment and Public Realm presented a report on Waste Collection – Proposed New Charges.

The Committee noted that in 2013 the Council entered into a partnership with Ashford and Swale Borough Councils and Kent County Council to let a 10 year waste collection contract, which was awarded to Biffa Municipal Ltd.  Every April an annual review was carried out to identify contract growth, which included changes in household numbers, garden waste subscriptions, bulky and clinical waste collections as well as a calculation of the annual indexation.  The annual indexation is calculated through a complex equation which included average weekly earnings index, CPI and DERV (Diesel).

 

It was noted that over the past three years the annual indexation applied had been + 0.383%, - 1.184% and – 2.012% respectively and the number of properties increased by 2,500. For 2017/18 the indexation is +5.577% and when combined with property growth, will equate to an additional cost of £180,000 compared with the previous year.

 

The Head of Environment and Public Realm advised that in order to close the gap between the original budget estimate and the uplifted contract costs, the current fees and charges had been reviewed.

 

In response to questions from Members, the Head of Environment and Public Realm advised that:-

 

·  Should the fee for the collection of 1 white good be £10 then the Council would be making a loss as the cost charged by Biffa was £15.50 which would equate to a £6,000 deficit per annum.

·  That the provision of bins for residents on a new development was paid for by the developers.  However, those residents moving into an existing property where the bins had been taken would have to pay for new bins.

·  The Council does have a statutory duty to collect clinical waste but could make a charge.

·  The Council does not provide the sharps bins, these are obtained by users from their doctor’s surgeries.  It was noted that the majority of residents already stockpiled them in readiness for a collection which was invariably twice a year.

·  A comparison was made with some Kent Authorities and whilst it was not known if flytipping had increased as a result of those charges, this could be explored further.

·  The Council would be running a ‘know where your waste goes’ campaign as part of the Litter Strategy.

·  The flytipping statistics would continue to be monitored and in particular fridges/freezers would be noted if part of any flytipping to be reported back to the Committee.

Councillor Perry arrived at 7.15 p.m. during the discussion of this item.

 

RESOLVED:

1.  That a new charge of £20 for the collection of a hazardous white 
  goods item (Fridge or Freezer), as part of the Bulky Waste
  Collection Service be introduced.

  Voting:  For: Unanimous

2.  That the Subsided Bulky Charge be changed to offer those in receipt of Council Tax Reduction Benefit either one hazardous white goods item (Fridge/Freezer) or one 1-4 item collection per year.

Voting:  For:  5  Against:  0  Abstentions:  4

 

3.  That the annual provision of black sacks to properties not suitable
  for wheeled bins be withdrawn.

  Voting:  For: Unanimous

4.  That a limit of two free collections per year be introduced for the 
  collection of Clinical Waste Sharps Boxes and a charge of £5 be
  made for additional requests.

  Voting:  For:  8  Against:  1  Abstentions:  0

5.  That a register of interest for a seasonal weekly garden waste
  service as a supplement to the existing fortnightly collections be

  carried out to determine its viability.

  Voting:  For:  Unanimous

Supporting documents: