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Membership:
Chair: Councillor Barry Fairbank
Councillors John Bartlett (co-opted), Christine Elmer, Deborah Oliver, Torquil Stewart, David Tipping and Graham Winton
Councillor Glenn Dearlove (Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Economy) also attended meetings to provide a link to the Cabinet.
Terms of Reference:
In considering the development and implications of an alternate weekly collection service as a way of improving recycling levels in Elmbridge, the scrutiny panel will
1. Identify the likely benefits and how these might be maximised;
2. Examine the general implications for service delivery, including service performance, satisfaction levels and recycling/ composting
levels;
3. Assess the associated financial, contractual and reputational implications;
4. Identify the concerns and disbenefits and how these might be minimised;
5. Consider current best practice and recommend public engagement initiatives, service development and service policies as
appropriate;
6. Assess the challenges and tasks associated with the development and possible implementation of an alternate weekly collections
service; and
7. Recommend if further work needs to take place and identify terms of reference and a timetable for carrying this out.
Meeting 1 - 30th June 2006
The background context in which an alternate weekly collections service is being discussed was considered and the panel agreed a terms of reference, the main areas of work and a timetable for completing this work.
Meeting 2 - 7th July 2006
Members undertook a site visit to the Materials Recovery Facility in Leatherhead for a tour of that facility, and also spoke to officers from Mole Valley District Council about their recent move to an alternate weekly collections service.
Meeting 3 - 14th July 2006
The panel visited the Cleanaway Depot in Esher for a tour of that facility, and discussed with representatives of Cleanaway (the Council's waste collection contractor) the implications of a move to alternate weekly collections from their perspective, specifically including the financial and contractual implications.
Meeting 4 - 17th July 2006
Members had the opportunity to discuss the initial findings of the review so far and identify further issues for consideration and the information required.
LGA Event '50% Recycling: How to get there!' - 21st July 2006
On behalf of the panel, Councillors Stewart and Winton attended this national conference about best practice in improving recycling rates.
Workshop Event at Spelthorne Borough Council - 24th July 2006
Spelthorne Borough Council are also considering a move to an alternate weekly collections service and invited Members to join this workshop to discuss good practice in alternate weekly collections and speak to Members from other local authorities about their experiences.
Meeting 5 - 1st August 2006
The panel met to discuss the findings of the review so far, and to review statistical information about the impact that alternate weekly collection can have on recycling and composting levels.
Meeting 6 - 6th September 2006
A progress report was presented to the Environmental Affairs Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 31st August 2006, and Members discussed the outcomes of the meeting and how the issues raised can be taken forward.
Meeting 7 - 28th September 2006
Members discussed the potential recommendations of the panel and started putting together the final report.
Meeting 8 - 18th October 2006
The panel considered a report by independent government consultants, Rotate, about the likely impact of changing recycling services on performance, and the financial robustness and operational viability of Cleanaway's proposals for alternate weekly collection.
The r|eport and recommendations of the scrutiny panel were presented to the Environmental Affairs Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 16th November 2006 at 7:45pm in Committee Rooms 1 and 2 of the Civic Centre in Esher.
For further information please contact the |Overview and Scrutiny Manager.