Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2019 be approved as a correct record.

The Committee received a presentation from representatives of AES around the AES Performance for 2018/19.

The presentation gave information around key objectives, core values, service integration, flexibility (i.e. adapting services to suit emerging needs) and the introduction of new systems to support service delivery. £234,000 of planned savings had already been delivered across the two authorities and additional benefits had been passed back to the councils and profits retained. 

Regarding performance, key performance indicators showed that the numbers of missed bins had reduced together with the numbers of annual complaints.  Recycling rates had increased but were still slightly below the target of 50%.  The strategic outlook for AES included a number of initiatives for employees and greater community involvement including visiting schools and groups to promote the #lifewithlessplastic campaign.

The transformation of the service included full utilisation of collective in-cab technology and council customer relationship management arrangements as well as potential changes to waste collection and disposal arrangements and fleet changes from May 20 which may support a transition to a lower emission fleet.  ANSA is trialling a number of lower emission and carbon fleet vehicles, the results of which would be shared with AES.  It was noted that the Government is consulting on National Waste Strategy proposals for 2023 and beyond which may lead to changes in waste collection and / or disposal arrangements.

In response to a query around the possible utilisation of vehicles for advertising purposes, members were advised that advertising and sponsorship opportunities across the council were being considered as part of the efficiency strategy.

The need for greater education around recycling and waste was discussed, and it was commented that the national waste strategy would tackle this challenge as the government were consulting on a number of measures to addresses issues and improve labelling.  Reference was also made to the need for work to be undertaken with local businesses to increase opportunities to recycle take away coffee cups for example.

Reference was also made to action taken around contaminated bins and particular areas to target around the borough was discussed.

RESOLVED:

That the presentation be received with thanks, and the representatives of AES be thanked for their attendance.

The Committee considered a report which provided details on the performance of Alliance Environmental Services Ltd (AES) during 2018/19/

RESOLVED:

That the performance of Alliance Environmental Services Ltd. (AES) during 2018/19 be noted.

The Chair reported that the representative of Derbyshire Police had sent their apologies to the meeting.  It was agreed that the disappointment of the Committee be conveyed to Derbyshire Police for tendering their apologies.

The Head of Direct Services made a presentation to the Committee to outline the duties of the Council in relation to street cleansing.

The Council has a statutory duty to keep highways and adopted council land clean to particular standards, and ways in which this was achieved included mechanical road and pavement sweeping, emptying litterbins, litter picking and manual sweeping areas inaccessible to mechanical sweepers.  Fly tipping removal, the removal of dead animals from the highway and graffiti removal from street furniture was also undertaken.

An amenity maintenance agreement with Derbyshire County Council was in place for the provision of gully cleansing, weed spraying of adopted highways  and pavements in urban areas and snow clearing and gritting of priority adopted footways.

Support was offered to Community Litter Picks with 54 being supported from January to June 2019.  Additional equipment had now been purchased and any groups seeking to undertake a litter pick were encouraged to contact street scene. Education was also undertaken with local schools.

Staffing levels were also outlined, together with information on how the borough was split into two areas, with the north being managed from Glossop to New Mills and the south managed managed from Buxton covering Hope Valley and Chapel en le Frith.

In response to comments regarding litter bins in car parks in the Hope Valley, members were advised that the management of visitor numbers was assessed and taken into account when decided the size of bins and frequency of emptying etc, with extra resources being deployed in the Hope Valley on particular weekends.

Reference was made to litter problems on areas of private property, such as supermarkets, and members were advised that work was undertaken with local businesses to try and tackle these issues. 

A number of areas around the borough experiencing litter problems were discussed including Padfield Main Road; Station Road, Hadfield and Wodhead.

RESOLVED:

That the presentation be welcomed and the Head of Direct Services be thanked for his attendance.

RESOLVED:

That the Select Committee Work Programme be noted.

To resolve that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business as there may be disclosure of exempt information as set out in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the following item of business as there may be disclosure of exempt information as set out in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED:

That the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2019 be approved as a correct record.