Agenda item

Councillor Alan Schneiderman introduced his Members item and gave an account of the recent refuse collection activity and the problems that he had experienced.    He requested support for his Members Item and requested that a full review be completed.  He stated that he had reports of black and blue bins were collected together in one vehicle and he noted that a number of residents across the Borough had not had their bins collected.

The Chairman Councillor Dean Cohen thanked Councillor Schneiderman for his comments and also gave his views on new bin collection arrangements.  He also thanked all Council Officers for their work to rectify the position which was supported by Council Schneiderman.   

The Strategic Director for Environment gave a lengthy verbal response which outlined the Council’s response to improve the collection service.  He informed the Committee that a review was in motion and the service provision was very closely monitored.    He also stated that Council staff were fully consulted before the services undertook a restructure and implemented the change to the collection service.   The Strategic Director for Environment said that the aim was to have a normal service resumed as soon as possible.  He noted that missed collections were now in isolated areas and that there had been 3500 bins not collected each week out of a total of 350,000.  

Members noted that residents had experienced problems reporting issues to the Council as there had been a problem with the Council’s phone lines and online forms. 

Members questioned if the agreed savings had contributed to the decline in performance of the refuse collection service and executed poorly.  The Chairman reminded Members that the Committee had agreed the 1 Million reduction in the budget and transition difficulties as the service was changed is not unexpected.  He added that the Officers were continuing to work hard and therefore there was an ongoing review.   He said he wanted to get this right and therefore he suggested that all Members of the Council should receive an update on the collection service before Christmas and a further update at the next meeting that included findings. 

Having considered the report the Committee:

Resolved:

-          That the Members Item be noted

-          That an update be provided before 21 December 2018 to all Members of the Council.

-          That a second update be provided at the next Committee meeting with findings

-          That all relevant staff be consulted for their feedback

Cllr Geof Cook – Saracens CPZ event day signage

Prior to the consideration of the item Councillor Dean Cohen withdrew from the meeting as he had earlier made a Pecuniary declaration.  In his place Vice Chairman Peter Zinkin took the Chair for that item only. 

Councillor Geoff Cooke introduced his Members item and requested that the Committee supported his item.

Councillor Zinkin noted that the signage was of importance to the local community.  He informed the Committee that the cost of the signage was (approximately) £28k and he therefore suggested that saracens be requested to fund the signage. 

Having considered the report the Committee:

Resolved:

-          That the Members Item be noted

-          That the Committee requested that the Strategic Director for Environment ask Saracens to fund the signage

-          Noted that the outcome of this be reported to the Committee at the next meeting