Issue - meetings

Report of the Head of Corporate Strategy (attached)

Purpose: to consider Biffa Municipal Limited’s (Biffa) performance in delivering the household waste collection, street cleansing and ancillary services contract for the period 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2013 and make any comments to the Cabinet Member with responsibility for waste to enable him to make a final assessment on performance.

The committee considered the report of the head of corporate strategy setting out the performance of Biffa Municipal Limited in providing the household waste collection, street cleansing, and ancillary services in South Oxfordshire from 1 January to 31 December 2013.

Mr Ian Matten, Waste and Parks Service Manager, and Mr David Dodds, Cabinet member, introduced the report and answered questions from the committee. Mr Simon Chown, contract manager for Biffa, answered questions and showed photographs of the ‘deep clean’ of streets across the district.

In answer to questions, they explained:

·        the process for registering and rectifying a missed collection;

·        free garden waste collections were offered to all properties on military bases as this was more cost-effective for both the occupants and the council given the high turnover in occupants;

·        staff turnover was relatively high as people moved on in their careers and Biffa was taking steps to improve retention rates;

·        Installation of 360° cameras on vehicles would give evidence in cases of allegations of damage from reversing vehicles. There should be no incidents if procedures were followed;

·        information about recycling and waste collection was sent to every newly built home.

Councillors discussed the reasons for the fall in the recycling rate. Street sweepings had to be landfilled in accordance an Environment Agency directive, which reduced the recycling rate by approximately three per cent. Alternative treatments were being evaluated.  The campaigns to reduce packaging had the effect of reducing this by 20-30 per cent; and the campaign to reduce food waste was also having an effect. Additional houses increased the total amount of waste produced. However, there was no clear reason why the national trend should be for increased waste tonnages and decreased recycling rates. Councillors noted that waste would now be sent to Ardley for incineration. The termination of the Oxfordshire Waste Partnership reduced the ability of councils to publicise and co-ordinate waste reduction campaigns.

They asked for confirmation of the accuracy of 2013 figures in table one on page 6.

Councillors expressed the view that the evaluation of the missed bins target as fair was harsh as the number of missed bins was very low. The calculation should be revised. They appreciated the work done during the deep clean, and residents were pleased with the results. They suggested a campaign to encourage people not to drop litter and ruin the good work of the street cleaning teams.

RESOLVED:

To recommend that the Cabinet member for finance, parks and waste assess the performance of Biffa Municipal Limited in delivering the household waste collection, street cleansing, and ancillary services in South Oxfordshire from 1 January to 31 December 2013 as:

Good