Agenda and minutes

The Committee noted the evacuation and housekeeping procedure.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 10 July 2023

AGREED the minutes of the meeting held on 10 July 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive the draft scope and project plan and a background presentation from the link officer.

Consideration was given to the Scope and Project Plan of the Scrutiny Review of Domestic Waste Collections, Kerbside Recycling and Green Waste.

The overall aim of the review was to analyse the Council’s approach to waste reduction to determine how it could be improved to reduce the financial and carbon cost. The review would consider the potential public resistance but also the importance of the environment, the costs of service delivery, and the direction of national policy over food waste.

The key lines of enquiry were:

• What is the current waste management strategy for Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council (SBC) and how does this align with the joint waste management strategy for the Tees Valley?

• What financial and strategic challenges does the authority face regarding waste management in the short, medium and long term?

•  How do the key issues surrounding domestic waste, recycling and green waste vary across the Borough?

• How do SBC’s recycling rates compare with other local authorities in the Tees Valley/ the North East/ nationally?

•  What actions need to be taken following the Government’s introduction of mandatory food waste collection?

• How will the introduction of the (Deposit Return Scheme DRS) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) impact on kerbside waste and recycling collections?

• How can the anticipated rise in gate fees be managed to ease additional financial pressures?

• What are the viable options to alter the current system of kerbside waste and recycling collections?

Key contributors would be Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council Officers, and a representative from Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

The Select Committee received a background presentation from the review’s link officer, Service Manager, Community Services, Environment and Culture.

The presentation covered:

• Timeline of changes in the Council’s recycling and waste collection service

• Collection

• Receptacles

• Waste Disposal

• Kerbside Recycling

• Recycling Rates and Targets

• How do we compare

• North East Comparison

• Top Performers

• Stakeholders

• Future National Strategy

• Challenges and Risks

The Committee requested the following further information as part of the review and key issues discussed included:

• Officers highlighted that Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council currently has the highest kg’s of residual waste per household in the country and are one of the only councils to collect weekly residual waste in a 240ltr wheeled bin.

• Discussions were held on the allocation of income generated from the collection of clean recycling. Officers explained that this income was included in the annual budget for waste collection and disposal and fluctuated depending on market prices for materials. Income generated in the previous financial year amounted to around £190,000.

• Concerns over the additional pressures on waste and recycling collection services arising from new housing developments currently under construction across the borough were raised.

• The significant increase in gate fees and the implications of this were discussed but figures were not disclosed in the public meeting. It was agreed that figures would be presented to Members (outside of the public meeting)  ...  view the full minutes text for item PLA/10/23

Consideration was given to the Work Programme.

The next meeting would be held on Monday 9 October 2023.

AGREED that the Work Programme be noted.