Agenda and minutes

Resolved: That all items on the agenda be web-cast.

Apologies were received from Councillor Mortimer.

It was noted that Councillor Joy was substituting for Councillor Mortimer.

There were no Visiting Members.

There were no disclosures.

Resolved: That all items be taken in public.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 July 2011 be agreed as a correct record of the meeting and duly signed by the Chairman.

Interviews with:

Paul Vanston, Kent Waste Partnership Manager; and

Steve Goulette, Assistant Director Environment & Regulatory Services

The Chairman welcomed Steve Goulette, Assistant Director of Environment & Regulatory Services and Paul Vanston, Kent Waste Partnership (KWP) Manager to the meeting.  Mr Goulette gave a brief overview of the waste and recycling arrangements, setting out the Maidstone context.

Mr Goulette explained to Members that Maidstone had been part of the waste partnership for a number of years and that to ensure they were getting the most out of the partnership Maidstone had undertaken a Best Value Review of Maidstone’s waste and recycling collection services in 2009. The outcome of which was the creation of a specific waste strategy for Maidstone including an action plan. Mr Goulette mentioned that prior to the review Maidstone had performed poorly in comparison to the other Kent authorities but with £500,000 (including £300,000 from KWP) of investment to make changes to the service, including the addition of a separate food waste collection service, satisfaction had risen to around 80%. Mr Goulette told the Committee that the current waste contract was due to expire in 2013 and that they would shortly be tendering for a new contract in partnership with Swale and Ashford. He confirmed there would be opportunity for the Committee to input into the work on the new contract.

Mr Vanston explained that the KWP included all thirteen Kent authorities and took the strategic view on waste with the Kent taxpayer in mind. The Committee noted that each authority contributed £5,000 annually and that last year Maidstone had received £318,000 of value back. Mr Vanston then gave a presentation (at Appendix A) which highlighted a number of key issues including:

·  There were 300 million tonnes of waste generated in Europe of which household waste made up only a small proportion.

·  The amount of waste going to landfill for Kent had reduced from 90% prior to 2006 to around 40%.

·  The most important element for waste management was diversion from landfill.

·  There were 8.3 million tonnes of food waste generated in the UK of which 5.3 million was considered to be avoidable waste.

·  The most effective way of dealing with waste was to have action plans for each waste material.

·  There was an opportunity to create an income stream from waste and that anything going to landfill was a lost opportunity.

The Committee queried why it appeared from the presentation that the Midlands had high rates of recycling. Mr Vanston informed them that the areas concerned were mainly rural and that collections of garden waste had contributed significantly to the higher rates.

Members asked what was being done about the promotion of recycling in particular education around food waste. Mr Goulette told them there was an ongoing national campaign to promote food waste recycling – Love food, hate waste. The Committee also noted that education in schools was carried out on a regular basis. They felt that the amount of food waste was unnecessary and agreed that education should continue and recommended that the Borough Update feature something outlining how much food is  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.

Members discussed their future work programme and the forward plan. The Committee debated the inclusion of the Review of Neighbourhood Forums due to Cabinet in August for September’s agenda. Members considered that they had already had opportunity to comment on the Review of Neighbourhood Forums and did not feel it necessary to revisit it at this time.

The Committee noted that in October they were meeting as the Crime and Disorder Overview & Scrutiny Committee. Members requested that an update was included in the agenda from Kent Police to update the committee on the position of Kent Police in relation to the riots. It was agreed by the committee that they would request an update from the police and would formulate specific questions at the September meeting.

Resolved: That the future work programme was amended to include an update from Kent Police for the meeting of the Crime and Disorder Overview & Scrutiny Committee in October.

6:30pm to 9:00pm