Subject: Washington Street: outcome of consultation on changes to refuse collections

Date of meeting: 18 January 2022

Report of: Executive Director: Economy, Environment & Culture

Contact Officer: Name: Lynsay Cook

Tel: 01273 292448

Email: lynsay.cook@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Ward(s) affected: Hanover & Elm Gove

1. Purpose of the report and policy context

1.1 At its meeting on 16 November 2021, the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee approved for a consultation to take place with the residents of Washington Street to determine whether to remain with communal refuse bins, or move to refuse wheelie bins, pending a wider piece of work as part of the Modernisation Programme.

1.2 This report presents the results of the consultation and seeks approval from Members on how to proceed.

2. Recommendations

2.1 That Committee agrees for individual refuse wheelie bins to be provided to households in Washington Street, based on the results of the consultation, and pending a wider piece of work as part of the Modernisation Programme.

3. Context and background information

Public consultation

3.1 Following approval at the last meeting of the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee, a covering letter and questionnaire were sent to the residents of Washington Street and some houses whose doors also backed onto Washington Street. The deadline to respond to the consultation was 10 December 2021.

3.2 41 responses were received from 93 questionnaires sent: a 44% response rate. The results of the consultation are:

Which method of refuse collection do you prefer?

· 39% (16) communal refuse bins

· 61% (25) individual refuse wheelie bin

I am willing to have a communal bin outside my house

· 11% (4) yes

· 83% (35) no

· Two blank responses: one for communal bins who stated they were already outside their house and one for individual bins

Current refuse provision

3.3 As stated in the report to the last committee meeting, communal refuse bins were installed in Washington Street in 2012. Since that time, additional bins have been added to Washington Street and collections increased to six times a week.

3.4 Residents have reported that the communal bins are being used by other residents in Hanover, leading to them overflowing. Despite Cityclean’s best efforts to manage this, it is becoming unmanageable.

3.5 There are 91 properties in Washington Street. Using the capacity calculator to determine appropriate communal refuse containment, the street should be served by two 1100 litre bins, emptied on a daily basis (15400 litres per week). Instead, there are eight 1100 litres bins, emptied on a daily basis (52800 litres per week). This is considerably more refuse provision than any other area of the city. Communal bins work best when the whole area has this method of collection, not only a couple of streets.

4. Analysis and consideration of alternative options

4.1 The public consultation sought residents’ preferred option for managing their refuse, pending review of waste management across Hanover.

4.2 It is recognised that providing wheelie bins may lead to obstructions on pavements. When Washington Street residents are written to explaining the next steps, they will be asked to keep their bins either in their back garden or in their property and only leave their bin on the pavement on collection day. If this is not possible, they will be requested to keep them neat and tidy on the pavement. To support this, City Environment will shortly be launching a public consultation on introducing enforcement measures for householders across the city not complying with waste receptacle requirements, as agreed by this committee in June 2021.

5. Community engagement and consultation

5.1 The results of the consultation are set out in the main body of the report.

5.2 In addition to this, some residents organised a petition which was presented to the last meeting of the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee. Of the 68 responses to this petition:

o 60% were in support for individual bins

o 3% supported communal bins

o 8% abstained

6. Conclusion

6.1 Based on the results of the consultation, it is recommended that individual refuse wheelie bins are provided to households in Washington Street.

6.2 This is a temporary arrangement pending a larger review of waste management across Hanover, which is to be completed as part of the Modernisation Programme.

7. Financial implications

7.1 There are no direct financial implications arising from the recommendations of this report. There is an existing budget for the purchase of refuse bins as well as stock held. New bins will be made available from the existing stock or available budget. The eight communal bins that are to be replaced by individual bins will be added to the stock to be reused in the city mitigating any additional purchases required in the future. Any significant variations to budget will be reported as part of the council’s monthly budget monitoring process.

Name of finance officer consulted: John Lack Date consulted: 20/12/2021

8. Legal implications

8.1 There are no direct legal implications arising from the report.

Name of lawyer consulted: Hilary Woodward Date consulted: 17/12/2021

9. Equalities implications

9.1 Assisted collections are available to those unable to present their waste for collection.

10. Sustainability implications

10.1 The existing bins used in Washington Street will be reused, as necessary, across the city.

Supporting Documentation

1. Background documents

· Report to Environment & Sustainability Committee (October 2012): Permission to Consult on Communal Refuse Collection in Hanover, Elm Grove and The Triangle Areas

· Report to Environment & Sustainability Committee (February 2013): Communal Refuse Collection in Hanover, Elm Grove and The Triangle Areas

· Report to Environment & Sustainability Committee (March 2013): Communal Refuse Collection in Hanover, Elm Grove

· Report to Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee (16 February 2021): Washington Street: permission to consult on changes to refuse collections