Issue - meetings

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee introduced the report and outlined the context and aim of the Committee’s review into the Council’s Performance against the Waste Strategy, 2018-2023. The Executive were asked to consider the resulting recommended actions, which cut across several portfolios. The urgent update provided Officer comments on the actions.

In response to questions, the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee explained that recommendation 1 could be managed by contacting local manufacturers directly with the request of reviewing their packaging, and lobbying local supermarkets which may have excessive requirements for the packaging of their products. The purpose of recommended action 4, which concerned the measurement of waste produced per person, was to enable the volume of waste produced to be monitored and communications tailored accordingly. The information would be calculated statistically rather than by measuring actual volume produced per household. Recommendation 5 which concerned the addition of questions to the residents’ survey aimed to identify the reasons for residents not recycling, for example whether it was due to a lack of understanding, or a lack of facility. It was confirmed that collaboration had taken place between the Council and Kent County Council, both via the working group and representation at the waste forum.

RESOLVED: That the report be considered by the Executive, and a response provided to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.