Agenda item

PART I – ITEMS RESOLVED BY CABINET

Item 1 – Financial Monitoring Report (based on performance April to June 2025 inclusive)

A councillor acknowledged that the report detailed funding spent on the waste roll out and sought clarification whether an update would be provided of further unbudgeted expenditure.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate clarified that the report detailed funding received from Defra of £151,000 and that a further £150,000, agreed by the Section 151 officer, had been allocated to the initial changes to the waste service roll out and the way the food waste was collected.

PART II – RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL

Item 2 – Review of new waste collection service phase 1 roll out and motion to suspend phases 2 and 3

Cllr Blunden introduced the report and moved the recommendation, which sought that Council endorse the six Cabinet resolutions, as the correct and proportional response to the motion.  Cllr S Davies seconded the motion.

A number of members spoke raising concerns that the report and response did not adequately address the issues raised in the first phase of the roll out.  It was felt that lessons learnt from the phase 1 rollout had not resolved the problems encountered by residents and that until they could be rectified, it was felt that the phase 2 and 3 roll out should not proceed.

The issue of donkeys accessing waste was raised and the ‘behind the gates’ policy which had been introduced for the pannage period within areas open to livestock.  It was acknowledged that donkeys could access waste all year round and the view was expressed that a long term ‘behind the gates’ policy should be adopted, without waiting for the business case for come forward, and that Cabinet recommendation 3 be amended to reflect this.  The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate addressed this matter and expressed confidence that a ‘behind the gates’ collection policy would be maintained in the long term, however, good financial management was necessary to ensure that the costs associated with the proposed policy change were budgeted for, in line with financial regulations, and recognising that the council was accountable for expenditure of public money.  It was therefore important to go through the due process before committing to any policy change.

Some ward members spoke from the Lymington and Pennington areas, raising the ongoing issue of missed food waste collections in Lymington, Pennington and Buckland.  It was recognised by one member, that the situation had improved, but further work needed to be done.  It was hoped that the problems experienced by residents in phase 1 would not be repeated in the future phases of the roll out.

One member spoke about the residents in the phase 1 roll out feeling that that they had not been listened to and that customer services had been difficult to contact due to the volume of enquiries.  It was felt that the Extraordinary Council meeting had had a positive impact with clear evidence of listening to the concerns raised by residents and members and responding to them. 

A few members referred to a recent site visit to discuss with local residents the problems experienced in Brockenhurst.  One member had not felt reassured that the issues had been resolved and noted that the pannage season had not  commenced at the time of the site visit, and concern was raised that the problems experienced in Brockenhurst could arise in the phase 2 roll out, in particular for the residents in Godshill and Hyde areas. 

Members speaking in support of the recommendation recognised that the council had been responding to the problems identified through the phase 1 roll out and put in place mitigating actions and improvements the service.  Learning from phase 1 was expected to benefit residents in phases 2 and 3.  Views were expressed to support the roll out of phases 2 and 3 as programmed.  It was highlighted that any pause or delay to the roll out could put the funding received at risk.  It was also highlighted that some residents wanted the roll out to proceed as planned, as the new service would address problems with seagull strikes with the current sack collection service.  One member felt that the roll out of the new service had been conducted in an acceptable way and whilst acknowledging that there had been some issues, in general it had been a success.

It was highlighted that some Cabinet members were part of the Waste Steering Group and it was suggested that in addition to this, backbench members be appointed to express their views on the roll out of the waste service.  This was supported by some other members.  It was also suggested that in order to improve communication, ward members be provided with details of any missed collections to disseminate to residents.  Furthermore, clarity was sought in relation to the KPIs on the waste service, highlighting that this was a core service affecting all residents and that there should be clear monthly data reported against relevant KPI’s.

Members recognised the importance of providing a good waste and recycling service to residents and that it was necessary to get it right.

Cllr Blunden responded to the debate, acknowledging that he had listened to the concerns raised and the constructive solutions put forward.  There had been an opportunity for members to put forward their views at various meetings, including the Extraordinary council meeting as well as Cabinet.  All suggestions and comments had been picked up by the Waste Steering Group and he assured members that these had been considered.

It was suggested that details of individual cases be provided through the waste advisor route, to resolve any ongoing problems.

It was highlighted that recommendation 3 from the Cabinet meeting, gave an, in principal agreement, to prevent livestock in the forest accessing food waste, with a permanent behind the gates policy.  This demonstrated a clear direction of travel, but it was necessary to consider the detailed costs associated with this policy and that it would need to go back to Council for a decision.

RESOLVED:

That Council endorse the Cabinet’s resolutions, as the correct and proportionate response to the motion.