Meeting documents

Questions to the Leader or any Cabinet Member must be submitted by 12 noon on Thursday 12 December 2019.

 

A questioner will have a maximum of 1 minute to ask a question and the answer shall not exceed 3 minutes. Any questioner may put one supplementary question without notice within a maximum time of 1 minute and the answer may not exceed 2 minutes.

 

Questions shall be taken first from the Group Leaders of the political parties who shall be entitled to ask an initial Leader`s question from his/her group, of which written notice shall have been given to the Head of Democratic, Legal and Policy Services prior to the meeting.

 

The order of questions shall then permit the first question from each other Councillor to be asked before any subsequent questions from the same Councillor. One question will be taken in turn from the same Councillor unless there are no other questions to be asked.

 

Every member asking an oral question is permitted to ask one supplementary question without notice provided that it is not substantially the same as a question that was put to a Council meeting during the past 6 months.

 

Any question remaining unanswered after 30 minutes will be answered within 10 working days in writing after the meeting by the appropriate Member and appended to the minutes of the meeting. 

a) Question from Councillor M Knight to Cabinet Member for Environment

 

In recent months my colleagues and I have received numerous complaints from across the district about household refuse collections by our contractor, Serco.

Collections seem to be frequently missed, collection days have been changed without notice, the required location of bins to be placed for collection has been changed, again without notice, and damaged bins have not been replaced like for like.

Increasingly it would appear that collection crews are having to work late into the evening in order to complete rounds which are perhaps unrealistic. This makes me concerned for staff welfare and safety.

Can you explain to me the reasons for these changes to the service and if you find them reasonable and within the expectations set out in the contract?

Verbal reply given by Councillor Mrs J Adey (Cabinet Member for Environment)

 

The contractor has recently experienced an increasing number of difficult to access sites that are served by bulk bins.  Narrow roads, particularly those serving flatted accommodation have been blocked by carelessly parked vehicles and this results in crews needing to revisit and attempt collection later in the day or soon after this. Each site has slightly different problems, and officers from the Joint Waste Team try to work with building managers, residents and motorists, by placing signs, delivering letters and leaving information on cars.

 

As the number of flatted developments has increased in the district, an additional collection resource has been introduced and changes have been made to bulk bin collections to try and re-balance collection rounds, so bringing some certainly around scheduled collection days. Officers of the Joint Waste Team have tried to communicate changes but it can be a challenge to ensure that the message reaches every household affected.

 

The changes that have been made recently were intended to improve service reliability, and they have been implemented in response to growing pressure on the bulk bin service in particular.  However, where failings occur in any aspect of the service these are addressed through normal contact mechanisms.

 

I am not aware of any widespread issue with the like for like replacement of lost or damaged waste containers. However, I am more than happy to receive details from you and I will pass them on to officers for investigation and rectification.

 

Regarding the change of location of bins for collection, I believe you are referring to some on roads in Micklefield. There has been full communication with the residents and I believe a compromise has now been reached with those who were affected.

 

Finally, crews will on occasion need to work later into the afternoon to complete rounds that have been disrupted for whatever reason, and naturally residents expect collections to take place on their allotted day whenever possible.  Additional vehicle resources can be drafted in to provide support in these situations.  Whilst refuse is undoubtedly a physically demanding job, the welfare of staff, I can assure you, remains of paramount importance to both the waste team and the contractors.

 

Supplementary Question

 

There had been a deterioration of service and increased complaints and I have tried to find evidence of the suggestion that rounds have been changed around the Micklefield area although I was informed that it was for Health and Safety reasons. I have asked for evidence but, to date, I have not received any. My concern is that the contractor is trying to save money and those savings are not being passed on to the Council. Can you assure me that I will see the evidence I have asked for, particularly the Risk Assessments and be assured that the changes are not about making money for the contractor?

 

Supplementary Response

 

I hope that you will see a continuation of good service. In reference to the Risk assurances, I would hope that they had been sent to you, however, I shall chase this.

 

b) Question from Councillor B Pearce to Cabinet Member for Environment

 

As you know, the new waste disposal contractor, Serco, only operate large collection vehicles.

This unfortunately presents a problem in two roads in the ward that I represent.

 

One is Squirrel Lane in Booker. The lane is very narrow and can only really accommodate large vans. Residents in this road have to struggle and put out bags which can be quite heavy, sometimes as many as eight and these obviously haven't got wheels.

 

When they are put out the night before, foxes and dogs tend to rip the bags open in order to obtain food items.

 

Another road where there is a problem is Gillfield Close in Cressex which again is a narrow road with often many parked cars and the collections are often missed due to lack of accessibility.

 

Would you not agree with me that it would be advantageous for this company to purchase small wheely bin type refuse vehicles similar to the ones operated by Biffa in South Bucks?  

 

Verbal reply given by Councillor Mrs J Adey (Cabinet Member for Environment).

 

I feel I must correct you on a couple of points in your question, the contractor is not new but has been servicing our waste collection for nearly seven years now, also they do operate smaller vehicles.

 

Some smaller narrow access vehicles are available under our current contract and the collection arrangements you refer to can be reviewed by the Joint Waste Team. However, even a narrow access vehicle can be defeated by careless parking and this is a perennial problem. The Joint Waste Team is currently trying to tackle a number of locations in Wycombe where access is difficult due to parked vehicles by working with affected residents, building owners and motorists. I will refer the areas you have mentioned to the team.

 

We are not looking to purchase any further new vehicles under the present waste contract. I would though, make the comment that where people do have to use bags for some of their waste, animals are only likely to rip them open when they smell food inside and of course food waste should go into the small waste bins for collection not the bags.  

 

Supplementary Question

 

Since writing my questions and under the Freedom of Information I have found out they do operate smaller vehicles which I did not know at the time of writing. Why do they not use smaller vehicles in Squirrel Lane?

 

Supplementary Response

 

I am sure they could be used and will look into the matter.

 

c) Question from Councillor T Green to the Leader of the Council

 

Would the Leader agree with me that given all the good work carried out by Wycombe District Council on community cohesion, it was disappointing to see people encouraging residents to vote in the recent election on religious grounds rather than political ones?

 

Verbal reply given by Councillor Ms K Wood (Leader of the Council).

 

I am immensely proud of the work done by Wycombe District Council on community cohesion. I believe we have worked hard to put integration and cohesion at the heart of our community strategies, structures and processes and to work through the challenges brought by an increasingly diverse society.

 

I believe that religion and politics should not mix even though, historically, that sadly does happen. However, I am sure that our residents expect us politicians to encourage people to vote on political grounds alone.

 

Having said that, your vote is your own whoever you choose to support and you should be free to express your opinions, no-one else has any right to influence it.

 

Councillor Green did not have a supplementary question.

 

d) Question from Councillor Ms J Wassell to the Leader of the Council

 

I was disappointed to read that there was not wholehearted support for suggestions for improving the Market.

 

Do you think themes such as locally produced products or international cuisine could be reconsidered? 

 

Verbal reply given by Councillor Ms K Wood (Leader of the Council).

 

This was referred to Cabinet from the High Wycombe Town Committee at the November meeting and is reported in the Cabinet minutes we are approving later this evening. From those, you can see that the suggestions from the High Wycombe Town Committee were noted and that this Council continued to welcome discussions with the operator to maximise future opportunities and that we also remain open to exploring international food market opportunities. I therefore do not think you can say that there was not wholehearted support for improving the market as we are indeed remaining open to all opportunities.

 

Having said that, the Council is commissioning external consultants to advise on the market operation and way of improving the current offering. We will request that both local products and international cuisine are explored as part of this process and in accordance with the Cabinet resolution.

 

Supplementary Question

 

I am pleased to hear some enthusiasm for international food market and products. With Brexit on the horizon and the trade deals to be made, we shall hopefully see an international food market within a month.

 

Supplementary Response

 

I am not sure that Brexit will affect the market, but we shall keep an eye on the situation to see the outcome.