Agenda item

The current Waste Services Contract for refuse, recycling and street cleansing is due to expire at the end of February 2019 and is being retendered on a partnership basis with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and in liaison with Kent County Council. 

In Part 2 of these papers Members are recommended to award the new South West Kent Waste Partnership contract 2019 to the successful contractor.  Subject to this recommendation being agreed this report recommends to Council the levy of an ‘opt-in’ garden waste charge, the capital funding for the purchase of new containers and the creation of a marketing/communications budget.  It also makes recommendations to Cabinet including an Equality Impact Assessment, a Communications Overview, and the use of an appropriate purchasing framework for the new containers.

Following consideration of the outcome of the tendering exercise for a new Waste Services Contract, set out in the Part 2 report on this agenda (Minute Number SSE 18/16, the report of the Borough Council’s Management Team set out a number of proposals related to the introduction of a garden waste charge, the capital funding for the purchase of new containers and the creation of a marketing/communications budget. 

The report made reference to a Joint Working Agreement (JWA) which was being developed between the Borough Council, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council and Kent County Council.  The JWA would supplement the Inter Authority Agreement by establishing the joint working arrangements and would make provision for the allocation of costs and liabilities on a fair basis between all parties.

Members welcomed the enhanced service options arising from the new waste services contract, particularly the introduction of kerbside collection of plastics and glass, as it offered a much improved service to residents.    It was also recognised that the proposal to charge for garden waste collection, for those households who wished to opt-in, was necessary to support these service enhancements.  In addition, the introduction of charges for garden waste collection represented a fairer system of charging as residents who did not use the service would not be subsiding those who did.  It was noted that the proposed charge of £40 per year represented good value for money, whilst supporting the enhancement of recycling and, as a result of the kerbside collections, provided a service for everyone.

There was no evidence of increased statutory nuisance regarding bonfires or increased fly tipping of garden waste on the introduction of charges reported elsewhere in the county, although this would be monitored by the Borough Council. 

The importance of effective communication with residents over the changes being made to the waste service was reiterated and details of a marketing strategy were outlined in the report. 

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)             the details and style of joint branding to be used by the successful contractor be considered in liaison with the established Member Group and Tunbridge Wells Borough Council;

(2)             delegated authority be given to the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services, in liaison with the Cabinet Member for Street Scene and Environment Services, to approve the final form of the Joint Working Agreement to be entered into (paragraph 1.3.4 of the report refers);

(3)             the role of Partnership Manager be undertaken in the first year of the new contract by Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (paragraph 1.3.3 of the report refers);

(4)             the current Capital Plan provision for the replacement of existing containers and purchase of containers for new households be reviewed and adjusted as part of the Capital Plan review (paragraph 1.5 of the report refers);

(5)             the procurement of the new containers for the Waste Services Contract be progressed through an appropriate Purchasing Framework (paragraph 1.5 of the report refers);

(6)             the Strategic Communications Overview, included at Annex 2, and approach to the development of a detailed Operational Marketing Plan included within the report (as outlined in paragraph 1.7) be approved;

(7)             the actions to address the impacts identified in the Equality Impact Assessment, as outlined in the report at paragraph 1.11, be noted.

*Referred to Cabinet

FOR COUNCIL DECISION:

(8)             the new opt-in garden waste charge at the standard rate of £40 per year, as outlined in the report at paragraph 1.4.3, be agreed and further detail on a reduced introductory charge be considered in accordance with the proposals set out at 1.4.3 at a future meeting of this Advisory Board;

(9)             the provision of new containers for the Waste Services Contract be added to the Capital Plan and funded from the earmarked reserve, as set out in Annex 1 to the report;

(10)          a marketing/communication budget be established to publicise and promote the new enhanced service in the sum of £100,000 funded from the Invest to Save reserve (paragraph 1.7 refers).

*Referred to Cabinet