Agenda, decisions and minutes

None.

The Portfolio Holder is asked to sign the minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2014 as a correct record. 

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2014 were agreed as a correct record.

The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder

AGREED        That the

A)           Current textile collection trial ceases as soon as practicable;

B)           textile recycling banks continue to be provided along with promotional material and support for existing charity recycling banks;

C)           outline business case does not currently support a district wide collection of textiles as part of the blue bin scheme.

It was noted that the Portfolio Holder would monitor the situation, including the impact on charity collections for textiles when the collection trial ceases.

The Head of Waste Operations presented this report, which recommended that the kerbside textile collection trial should cease. It had been hoped that the collection service, currently covering approximately 10% of residents, would be extended across the District, but this was rejected due to the increase in running costs for extending the scheme and a decrease in the value of recycled textiles by £125 per tonne, which made the scheme economically unviable.

The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder

AGREED        That the

A)           Current textile collection trial ceases as soon as practicable;

B)           textile recycling banks continue to be provided along with promotional material and support for existing charity recycling banks;

C)           outline business case does not currently support a district wide collection of textiles as part of the blue bin scheme.

It was noted that the scheme would not be discontinued immediately, as residents currently having their textile waste collected would need to be informed of the change. It was further noted that the Portfolio Holder would monitor the situation, including the impact on charity collections for textiles when the collection trial ceases, and would consider reintroducing such a collection scheme should conditions become favourable.

The Environmental Health Officer (Public Health Specialist) presented this report, which informed the Environmental Services Portfolio Holder of the grants awarded by officers under the Mobile/Community Warden Schemes for 2014/15. The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder explained that he had delegated these decisions to officers to allow prompt payment of the grants, following the cancellation of the Portfolio Holder’s meeting scheduled for 18 March 2014.

The Environmental Health Officer (Public Health Specialist) explained that the Harston & District Community Warden Scheme had been awarded significantly less than requested, as they had not increased their number of clients from the current figure of eight.

The Environmental Health Officer (Public Health Specialist) explained that the grant scheme was advertised in parish newsletters, by Care Network UK, Cambridgeshire ACRE and had been promoted by Age UK Cambridgeshire.

The Environmental Health Officer (Public Health Specialist) responded to concerns regarding the lack of grant receiving schemes in the District’s larger villages by explaining that the Age UK “Small Villages” scheme covered several villages. It was noted that some schemes did not ask for funding and therefore are unknown to the Council.

The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder NOTED the report.

The Portfolio Holder will maintain, for agreement at each meeting, a Forward Plan identifying all matters relevant to the Portfolio:

·         Cross-border waste collection: Service Level Agreement with Cambridge City Council

·         Joint Procurement of a Cambridgeshire Handy Person Scheme in July/August

Sharing waste collection service with Cambridge City Council

The Head of Waste Operations explained that the Council had agreed a cross-border collection service with the City Council for a small number of homes and it was hoped that this would set a precedent. The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder agreed to continue to update councillors on any further developments. It was suggested that an article could be put in the councillors’ weekly bulletin.

Recycling service to hard to reach groups

It was hoped that a fortnightly recycling waste collection service could be introduced to Travellers’ sites that currently did not enjoy such a service. It was recognised that it could prove challenging to ensure that these residents, who did not currently have green and blue wheeled bins, put waste into the correct bins. It was also noted that there was a history of confrontation with Council staff when bins, which had the wrong waste, were not collected.

Members are asked to bring their diaries.

The Environmental Services Portfolio Holder agreed to not set any future meetings until after annual council.