Meeting documents

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the PAG held on 12 December 2012.

The minutes of the meeting of the PAG held on 4 December 2012 were received.

To consider report of the Director of Services.

In September 2011 the PAG had considered a comprehensive report presenting the background, estimated costs and operational implications of changing refuse and recycling services in the District with a view to establishing a preferred way forward for the future and the following was recommended for initial planning purposes:

·        Fortnightly refuse collection from a wheelie bin

·        Fortnightly recycling collection

·        Weekly food waste collections from a 25l container

·        Chargeable garden waste collection service

·        A potential start date of 2014, since 2012 was likely to be unrealistic on both cost and technical grounds.

At the time there were still several unknown factors that influenced costs and it was further recommended that discussion on how recycling should be collected in the future should await further information.

This information had now been received and the PAG accordingly received a further report providing an update on the likely timescale of a wholesale service change within the District thus enabling members to identify a way forward.

Before discussing the Recycling Service Options the report addressed a number of issues:

• CDC and WDC Joint Collection Contract;
• Paper Sort Facility (PSF) and UPM Contract; and
• Dropmore Depot

The report then set out a number of options for the recycling service including estimated costs and following a discussion the PAG indicated its support for the proposed way forward namely

v     A wheelie bin for cans, aerosols, foil, rigid plastic packaging, glass bottles and jars and possibly card

v     Existing boxes (regardless of colour) for paper and possibly card

v     Small bags  for batteries

v     Loose small electronic and electrical items

v     Chargeable Garden waste collection service

The PAG recognised that the success of the changes would be dependent on re-educating residents to change their behaviour and noted the measures that would be taken (e.g. road shows) to achieve this.

The PAG also indicated its support for a number of detailed proposals including the size of the bin to be supplied which they felt should be 240 litres for the reasons given in the report.

The PAG, after noting the assumption that food waste collected from households will be taken to one location, also noted that the proposed charge for the collection of garden waste of £45 per year would be the subject of review before implementation.

Following a question it was confirmed that tetra packs would be collected and that the issue of collecting clothing would be investigated further. The proposal to charge Bucks County Council for the maintenance cost of the vehicles would also be investigated further.

To consider report of the Director of Services.

The Council has never had a formally adopted parking policy and the PAG received a report inviting it to comment on a number of principles that could form the basis of such a policy including the following:

• Provide parking for both short stay and long stay users
• Provide a number of car parks for short stay only to ensure parking is available for shoppers/visitors
• Design disabled parking places in accordance with national guidelines

During the discussion the PAG indicated its support for the principles together with the proposals for consultation and looked forward to receiving the draft policy at a future meeting.

To consider report of the Director of Services.

A third survey of the refuse, recycling and street cleansing services had been completed in 2012 and the PAG received a report setting out the results of this survey.

The PAG was pleased to note that, overall, there were high levels of satisfaction with the services. Following a question in connection with paragraph 4.15 the Head of Environment undertook to see if there were any responses from Gerrards Cross and Beaconsfield.

To note the following item(s) contain exempt information, which is not for publication to the press or public in accordance with Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Members noted that the following reports contained information that was not available to the press and public.

Refuse and Recycling - Future Options

(Schedule 12A part 1, paras 1, 3, and 4, – because of information relating to/any individual/the financial or business affairs of any particular individual/any negotiations)

The PAG noted the information in the report which provided a breakdown of the estimated costs of the proposals set out in 25.

Dropmore Road Depot – Update

(Schedule 12A part 1. para 3 – because of information relating to the financial and business affairs of any particular individual including the authority)

Both Mrs Woolveridge and Miss Hazell  declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item – being members of the Planning Committee which was due to consider the planning application in respect of the site on 26 March – and withdrew from the meeting whilst the matter was under discussion.

The PAG noted the report which provided an update on proposals to redevelop the site.