Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest in accordance with the Code of Conduct.  However, in the interests of transparency, Councillor M Balfour indicated that he was the Cabinet Member for Planning, Highways, Transport and Waste at Kent County Council and Councillor R Betts advised that, as the owner of a local food business, he was subject to the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme.

To confirm as a correct record the Notes of the meeting of the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board held on 7 November 2016

RESOLVED:  That the notes of the meeting of the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board held on 7 November 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Decision Notice D170037MEM

The report of the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services indicated that the current waste services contract for refuse, recycling and street cleansing was due to expire in February 2019.  Details were given of the proposed retendering process, opportunities for partnership working with other local authorities and the potential for service improvements, efficiencies and savings.  Members were made aware of a couple of minor amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) provided at Annex 2 to the report and that a final version would be attached to these Minutes for information.

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)             the Nominal Optimal Method (NOM) of collection, including the separate fortnightly collection of garden waste as outlined in section 1.3 be approvedas the preferred option for retender of the Waste Services Contract to be reflected in the drafting of the Service specification;

(2)             the principle of introducing a charge for the separate collection of garden waste on an “opt in” basis be noted, with further details being reported to a future meeting of the Advisory Board;

(3)             the Memorandum of Understanding attached at Annex 2 to the report be endorsedand it be noted that this forms the basis of a more detailed Inter Authority Agreement (IAA), to be considered by the Advisory Board later this year;

(4)             the proposed “Open Tender Procedure” with pre-procurement contractor engagement be approved; and

(5)             it be noted that further details on proposed standards and levels of service for inclusion within the Contract Specification will be reported to a future meeting of the Advisory Board for consideration. 

Decision Notice D170038MEM

The report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health summarised the operational activities of the Council in relation to its statutory Environmental Health functions undertaken by the Environmental Protection Team and Food Safety Team for 2016/17.

RECOMMENDED:  That the performance information relating to activities associated with the food safety and environmental protection functions in 2016/17 be noted and the service improvements for 2017/18, as detailed in paragraphs 1.4.1 and 1.4.2 of the report, be endorsed. 

The report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health advised that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) had recently confirmed a change of policy which enabled local authorities to use existing powers within the Localism Act 2011 to introduce charges to recover the cost of re-inspection requests under the food hygiene rating scheme.  Details of the proposed level of charge, which aligned the voluntary scheme in England to the statutory schemes in Wales and Scotland, were set out in the report. 

RECOMMENDED:  That Cabinet approve the introduction of a charge of £160.00 for a Food Hygiene Rating Scheme re-inspection.

*Referred to Cabinet

Decision Notice D170039MEM

The report of the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health referred to the requirement for the Council to produce a Food and Safety Service Plan against which it would be monitored and audited by the Food Standards Agency.  A revised draft of the Plan was set out for consideration and comment.

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)          the revised Food and Safety Service Plan (2017 – 20) set out at Annex 1 to the report be noted; and

(2)          the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be sought in accordance with the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules set out in Part 4 of the Constitution.

The report of the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services gave an update on a number of projects and initiatives within the Waste and Street Scene Services.  Particular reference was made to the rescheduling of Refuse and Recycling Collections, Christmas and New Year Collections 2017/18, enforcement of waste offences and the Love Where You Live initiatives.  The Board noted that the awards ceremony for the Environmental Champions Awards 2017, supported by Veolia, had been deferred to 7 October 2017. 

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting during consideration of any items the publication of which would disclose exempt information.

There were no items considered in private.