Agenda item - City Environmental Management - Modernisation Programme Update

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

1)           That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee notes the response to the Notice of Motion.

2)           That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee agrees that the garden waste service can operate at a surplus. The surplus will be ring-fenced to City Environment and invested back into waste and recycling services.

3)           That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee notes the business model for commercial services outlined in Appendix 2 and agrees to the continued development of commercial services through the creation of a dedicated Commercial Team, following staff and trade union consultation, with the aim of improving the delivery of the trade and garden waste service.

4)           That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee delegates authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture (following consultation with the Executive Director Finance & Resources) to revise the commercial waste collection prices in response to the prevailing market prices for the services provided at least annually.

5)           That a report updating progress on all matters be brought to the 22^nd January 2019 Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee.

29.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that set out a response to the Notice of Motion passed by Full Council on 19 July 2018 and provided an update on the City Environment Modernisation Programme.

29.2      Councillor Atkinson asked how increases in housing were factored into forward planning.

29.3      The Assistant Director- City Environment clarified that increases in housing and changes to parking regulation were typically made ad-hoc and that was a demonstration as to why a collection route restructure was required. The Assistant Director- City Environment added that going forward, systems would be brought into place to ensure the collection routes were constantly reviewed and resourced.

29.4      On behalf of the Conservative Group, Councillor Wares moved a motion to add a recommendation 2.5 as shown in bold italics below:

2.5    That a report updating progress on all matters be brought to the 22^nd January 2019 Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee.

29.5      Councillor Peltzer Dunn formally seconded the motion. 

29.6      Councillor Wares welcomed a report he found to be open, honest and frank. Councillor Wares stated that the report underlined a long list of failures by the current administration and a catalogue of systemic failure such as a trade and green waste system ‘set up to fail’ and that no attention had been paid to staff or the Depot facility. Councillor Wares added that he welcomed the modernisation plan however; it should not have taken so long to identify and take action. Councillor Wares highlighted that issues around pay and staff relations were well established and that a huge amount of inefficiency was caused by the lack of a central point of customer service and a lack of clarity of who to contact. That issue was made only worse by the fact drivers could not be contacted during rounds. Councillor Wares expressed his disbelief that 1,000 garden waste customers had not been charged as inadequate systems were in place to renew subscriptions meaning that a service introduced for income generation had instead become expenditure to the council. Councillor Wares detailed several issues that were not addressed in the report including the over-storage of bins at the depot, a lack of detail on potential locations for communal recycling outside of the city centre, the amount of grit stored outside leading to wastage during rainfall and the absence of proposals on waste disposal for small business and sole traders. Councillor Wares surmised that whilst he welcomed the openness of the report, it made apparent enormous problems that should never had occurred and he believed the administration had fundamentally failed.

29.7      The Chair stated that whilst all services had absorbed the enormity of government cuts, the environmental services had taken a disproportionate level in all areas.

29.8      Councillor Wares stated that it was incorrect to place blame for the issue on government cuts the issues concerned related to not collecting revenue. Councillor Wares added that he understood the enforcement framework would be presented to a future meeting and he believed that report should not be revenue focussed and rather, should provide a workable plan for the entire city including its outskirts.

29.9      Councillor Brown stated that the biggest problem in the Cityclean service was the absence of a reliable and effective method of communication. In reference to paragraph 3.50, Councillor Brown noted her surprise that there was a lack of a clear framework for environmental enforcement.

29.10   The Chair stated that whilst the current environmental enforcement procedures were correct and legal, it had become clear that a unique framework was necessary to ensure the service worked for the entire city.

29.11   Councillor Miller stated that the committee had presented an account of a service in a very poor state and he hoped things could be made right quickly. In reference to paragraph 3.1, Councillor Miller stated that he hoped there was sufficient capacity in existing staff rather than use agency staff and furthermore, that the basics of the service should be in order before expanding the trade waste service. Councillor Miller supplemented that he would like to see an expanded roll-out of communal bins as that method of refuse and recycling collection was more efficient in some areas and because an increase in recycling rates would generate income and capacity at the Newhaven Incinerator that the council could then lease.

29.12   Councillor Littman stated that he agreed with most of the comments made adding that much of ward councillor’s time was spent on resident’s complaints about missed collections or enforcement. Councillor Littman added that he was pleased the roll out of recycling wheeled bins was being audited as the issue had been particularly problematic in his ward. Councillor Littman observed that the current administration had made a ten-point contract in their 2015 election campaign material and the first of those points was a commitment to directly oversee the refuse and recycling service.

29.13   The Chair replied that it was not the duty of any Member to micro-manage with senior officers responsible for operational management of services.  

29.14   Councillor West stated that the administration had made a pledge to the electorate that had not been fulfilled and that should be accountable. Councillor West stated that residents had suffered from an ineffective service which he believed was down to a withdrawal of service funding that should now be put back. Councillor West added that the previous administration had resolved a pay and allowances dispute, started and completed a number of good initiatives and the fact that the refuse and recycling service was now effectively in special measures, was a demonstration of failure on behalf of the administration.

29.15   Councillor Horan observed that the election result of 2015 clearly showed that there was a lack of faith in the previous administration. Councillor Horan acknowledged there were systemic failures within the Cityclean service however, that applied to a longer period than the previous two years. Councillor Horan added that the current administration had made a manifesto pledge to resolve the recycling and refuse service. A public apology had been made for not delivering that pledge and for service disruption and the report before committee demonstrated the administration’s commitment to rectifying the issue.

29.16   Councillor Robins stated that he could not understand some of the comments made by other committee members when evidence showed that local authorities had lost 60p in every £1 of funding due to cuts in the period between 2010 and 2020.

29.17   Councillor Miller stated that other councils had made the same budget reductions without diminishing services.

29.18   Councillor Atkinson thanked officers for a comprehensive and wide-ranging report that looked forward on several issues such as how to improve communications, training and long-term plans. Councillor Atkinson noted that it was very important that staff and unions be fully consulted on changes and that was clearly set out in the document.

29.19   Councillor Wares stated that it was wholly unnecessary and inaccurate to blame budget cuts as the report detailed at some length how money had been wasted due to a failure of operational oversight. Councillor Wares stated that the council needed to help residents and staff and modernise the service and the administration needed to admit its errors.

29.20   The Chair stated that the former Chancellor of the Exchequer had stated that all council’s should become self-financing by selling services at the same time as capping tax council and enforcing severe cuts to local authority budgets meaning councils were forced into a dire financial position. The Chair stated that there was absolutely no excuse for setting up income generating services incorrectly.  However, when councils were attempting set up that type of service to protect jobs at the same time as making harsh budget cuts and attempting to continue providing its basic services in that context, it was not unusual that the type of situation being discussed by the committee would occur.

29.21   Councillor Littman stated that it was a unique situation whereby refuse was building up on the street as was currently the case, without there being strike action. Councillor Littman agreed that there had been eight years of cuts however, four of those had been under the previous administration and that predicament had received little sympathy or support at the time from the current administration.

29.22   Councillor Peltzer Dunn stated that given the history of the issue, he believed the committee should receive a report on the matter every second meeting and the fact that the situation had reached this point was indictment on the council and all political groups. Councillor Peltzer Dunn commended officers and the administration for bringing forward such an open and honest report and stated that focus should now be put forward to ensuring the modernisation plan was enacted and the service improved for residents.

29.23   The Chair then put the motion to the vote that passed.

29.24   The Chair then put the recommendations, as amended to the vote that passed.

29.25   RESOVLED-

1)           That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee notes the response to the Notice of Motion.

2)           That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee agrees that the garden waste service can operate at a surplus. The surplus will be ring-fenced to City Environment and invested back into waste and recycling services.

3)           That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee notes the business model for commercial services outlined in Appendix 2 and agrees to the continued development of commercial services through the creation of a dedicated Commercial Team, following staff and trade union consultation, with the aim of improving the delivery of the trade and garden waste service.

4)           That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee delegates authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture (following consultation with the Executive Director Finance & Resources) to revise the commercial waste collection prices in response to the prevailing market prices for the services provided at least annually.

5)           That a report updating progress on all matters be brought to the 22^nd January 2019 Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee.

The Committee adjourned at 6pm and reconvened at 6.10pm.