Issue - meetings

Ahead of the Supplementary Council Agenda publication, which will follow the Cabinet meeting, the background Cabinet reports relating to this meeting can be viewed on the Council’s website at the following link:-

Cabinet – Wednesday 21 February 2024

PART I – ITEMS RESOLVED BY CABINET

There were no items resolved by Cabinet in this report.

PART II – RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL

Item 1 – Waste Strategy Implementation – Revised Timeline and Financial Appraisal

Cllr Blunden introduced the item and moved the recommendations from the Cabinet meeting.  Cllr S Davies seconded the motion.

RESOLVED:

That the Council agree that:-

(a)   Officers proceed to take the necessary decisions to implement the service changes for refuse collection, recycling and food waste collections as set out in Section 5 of the Cabinet report, in readiness for commencement of the new service in Spring 2025;

(b)   The budget requirements as set out in section 7 of the Cabinet report are approved, noting that these are included in the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan.  Council notes in particular the anticipated service roll out costs for 2025/26 at £1.4 million, with a likely offset of £0.8 - £1.2 million through the receipt of EPR funding, and the additional budget requirement for transitional costs, increasing from £1.224 million to £1.825 million;

(c)   Officers continue procurement processes to secure the necessary vehicles, wheeled bins, food caddies and other containers, including ancillary services in order to deliver the new service; and

(d)   Officers continue to work with Hampshire County Council and other Hampshire partners to identify the best long-term solution to recycling collections and processing to meet the Government requirements and return to Cabinet for a final decision.

Item 2 – Housing Revenue Account Budget and the Housing Sector Capital Expenditure Programme 2024/25

Cllr S Davies introduced the item and moved the recommendations from the Cabinet meeting.  Cllr Cleary seconded the motion.

The recommendations were put to a recorded vote, the outcome of which was as follows:-

Voting for:- Cllrs Alvey, Armstrong, Blunden, Brand, Clark, Clarke, Cleary, Craze, Crisell, Cullen, J Davies, S Davies, Dowd, Dunning, Glass, Harrison, Hartmann, Hawkins, Haywood, Heron, Linford, Mballa, McCarthy, Millar, Murray, O’Sullivan, Osborne, Parker, Penman, Penny, Poole, Rackham, Reid, Reilly, Richards, Rickman, Sleep, Thierry, Tipp, Tungate, A Wade, M Wade, Ward, Woods, Young.

Voting against:- None.

Abstaining:- None.

The recommendations were carried unanimously, 45 in favour, 0 against, 0 abstaining.

RESOLVED:

That Council approve the HRA budget and housing public sector capital expenditure programme for 2024/25, as follows:-

(a)   That from 01 April 2024, an increase in rents of 7.7% from the 2023/24 weekly rent level, in accordance with Government guidelines, be agreed;

(b)   That from 01 April 2024, an increase in garage rents of 15% from the 2023/24 weekly rent level be agreed;

(c)   That from 01 April 2024, an increase in shared ownership property rents of 9.4% from the 2023/24 weekly rent level, in accordance with Government guidelines of RPI +0.5%, be agreed, and that the weekly rent of one additional property sold under previous legislation be increased by 7.7%;

(d)   That from 01 April 2024 the new disaggregated approach to Service charges, which will reflect transparent and up to date annual charges for all eligible communal and domestic charges  ...  view the full minutes text for item 64

RESOLVED:

Cabinet recommended to Council that:

i)         Officers proceed to take the necessary decisions to implement the service changes for refuse collection, recycling and food waste collections as set out in Section 5 of the Cabinet report, in readiness for commencement of the new service in Spring 2025;

ii)       The budget requirements as set out in section 7 of the Cabinet report are approved, noting that these are included in the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan.  Council notes in particular the anticipated service roll out costs for 2025/26 at £1.4 million, with a likely offset of £0.8 - £1.2 million through the receipt of EPR funding, and the additional budget requirement for transitional costs, increasing from £1.224 million to £1.825 million;

iii)      Officers continue procurement processes to secure the necessary vehicles, wheeled bins, food caddies and other containers, including ancillary services in order to deliver the new service; and

iv)      Officers continue to work with Hampshire County Council and other Hampshire partners to identify the best long-term solution to recycling collections and processing to meet the Government requirements and return to Cabinet for a final decision. 

KEY DECISION:

Report to Cabinet and Council

PORTFOLIO:

Environment and Sustainability

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED/REJECTED:

As set out in report.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

None

DISCUSSION:

The Portfolio Holder for Environment and Sustainability introduced the report.  He was pleased that financial information had been received from Government in October 2023 and January 2024 which enabled the Council to further develop plans for transforming the waste service.  The Council had secured Capital funding from Government and refined the roll out plan for the new waste service.  Further information was awaited information from Government in relation to funding.

The Council could now proceed with the changes to the waste service, which would increase recycling and reduce waste.  It was recognised that the service changes were a key Council priority and would manage waste in a more sustainable way.

The Assistant Director – Place Operations outlined the report and highlighted that an update had been provided to Cabinet in December 2023 detailing the position at county and national level in relation to future funding and the legislation regarding the arrangements for the management of waste.

Since December last year, DEFRA had announced the capital funding arrangements in relation to the food waste collection service.  The Council had written to DEFRA responding to this, expressing concern about the funding and timing of the roll out arrangements.  Modelling work was underway with partners across Hampshire to determine the final position for the recycling services for all authorities across Hampshire.

It was confirmed that the proposed waste service would deliver most of what had been proposed in the agreed Waste Strategy, approved in July 2022. This included the introduction of wheeled bins with a 180 litre bin for residual waste and a 240 litre bin for recycling and these were to be collected on alternate weeks.  There was also to be a weekly food waste collection service as required by Government.  Glass  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67