Agenda item

To approve the cost effective and timely procurement of the containers required for the range of Fenland municipal properties to commence weekly food waste in line with legislation.

AGREED to:

·         delegated power for the Corporate Director with responsibility for Environmental Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to purchase the required containers through the most cost-effective and timely means.

·         the capital expenditure from the monies supplied by Defra for this purpose, and that should the total exceed the monies supplied that this further capital be sought from appropriate reserves by the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Finance Portfolio Holder.

·         delegate authority to the Portfolio Holder for Refuse and Recycling, Parks and Open Spaces to inform Defra of any change to implementation deadlines should this be required if there are delays to the delivery of these containers, or other essential equipment such as vehicles.

Members considered the Food Waste Container Procurement Report presented by Councillor Murphy.

Councillor Boden asked how this new service would be communicated to residents in advance as he had read with concern the minutes of a meeting of Peterborough City Council stating they had incurred additional costs of £800,000 due to residents incorrectly separating their food waste, using residual bins rather than caddies. Councillor Murphy responded that officers would undertake spot checks and distribute advisory leaflets where householders were found to be sorting their food waste incorrectly. Bins used incorrectly would not be emptied and householders would have to remove the unsuitable waste and arrange collection of bins themselves. Advance publicity will be key to householders complying correctly from day one.

Councillor Mrs Laws said she is concerned about this new initiative. Publicity is all very well but people are in the habit of using their green bin and it may be that the threat of a fine is required. She cannot see compliance unless there is some hard enforcement behind it. Councillor Boden said he doubted that the Council would have the legal power to issue fines, but the only sanction would likely be not to collect the bin. Councillor Boden added that this strategy is more than 12 months away and will take a bit of forward planning to get it right.

Councillor Seaton asked for clarification on how many bins residents will have as he was concerned too many will cause confusion. Councillor Murphy advised that there will be no additional bins, only a slightly larger outdoor caddy to transfer food waste daily from a smaller indoor caddy and these are being rolled out nationally. Councillor Seaton commented that if there is a danger of these caddies being blown down the road in high winds as larger bins do now, it would not be a good start to a new service. Councillor Boden said it would be useful to contact Peterborough City Council colleagues to gain from their experience of using the caddy service over many years. 

Councillor Hoy commented that she has reservations regarding this system. She queried how it may work when staff are already doing their best to advise those residents who continue to incorrectly sort their waste which then creates a mess, particularly in areas where there is a high concentration of HMOs. She is concerned that bins may end up piled high with smelly food waste that will go uncollected and all the problems that brings. This may be a year away, but it is important to ensure the message is communicated extensively to all residents including those for whom English is not their first language.

Councillor Boden said that although this report was about procurement, it is clear from the comments that there are concerns about how the new system will be implemented and it is good to have this discussion now. 

Proposed by Councillor Murphy, seconded by Councillor Mrs Laws and AGREED to:

·         delegated power for the Corporate Director with responsibility for Environmental Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to purchase the required containers through the most cost-effective and timely means.

·         the capital expenditure from the monies supplied by Defra for this purpose, and that should the total exceed the monies supplied that this further capital be sought from appropriate reserves by the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Finance Portfolio Holder.

·         delegate authority to the Portfolio Holder for Refuse and Recycling, Parks and Open Spaces to inform Defra of any change to implementation deadlines should this be required if there are delays to the delivery of these containers, or other essential equipment such as vehicles.