Agenda item

Purpose: To make a decision about how to develop the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) and how to control waste flow.

Resolved that:

·         new measures would be introduced to control access to the Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) services; including a resident permit scheme and a booking system for residents using commercial type vehicles.

·         the extension of the Padworth HWRC service would be explored with the Council’s Waste Management Contractor.

This decision is not subject to call in as:

·      a delay in implementing the decision would cause the Council serious financial implications.

therefore it will be implemented immediately.

The Executive considered a report (Agenda Item 7) which sought approval for proposals to mitigate against the effects of the end of the cross border arrangement by Hampshire County Council for their residents to use West Berkshire Council’s Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) service, and the decision to cease the arrangement with the re3 partnership (which consisted of Bracknell Forest, Reading and Wokingham Councils) which enabled West Berkshire residents to use the Smallmead HWRC.

Councillor Marcus Franks explained that from 1 April 2016, Hampshire County Council, having given notice, ended their financial contributions to allow Hampshire’s residents access to the Padworth and Newtown Road HWRCs. Currently Hampshire residents were still using West Berkshire’s HWRCs.

To mitigate against the loss of income from Hampshire County Council, it was proposed that access to the West Berkshire HWRC sites be controlled by the implementation of a resident permit scheme and restricting access to commercial vehicles.

At the Special Council Meeting on 24 March 2016 the Council decided to end the arrangement with re3 and cease the Council’s contribution of £460,000 at a time when significant savings had to be found. Therefore, three months notice had been given to re3 which would end the agreement on the 30 June 2016. re3 had responded by introducing controls to stop residents from West Berkshire using their facility from the 1 July 2016. The disposal of waste by West Berkshire residents at this facility would need to be managed through the Council’s waste services.

Councillor Franks pointed out that significant efforts had been made with the re3 waste partnership with a view to reducing costs and avoiding this situation prior to this decision being made in March 2016.

To mitigate against the impact on residents, following the decision by the re3 partnership to close access to West Berkshire residents, it was proposed that the possibility of extending the service at the Padworth HWRC should be explored with the Council’s Waste Management contractor (Veolia).

Councillor Franks urged those residents who had utilised the Smallmead HWRC to date to make use of the Padworth HWRC for recyclable waste, the Newtown Road HWRC for both recyclable and non-recyclable waste, as well as utilising roadside recycling and bulky waste collections.

Councillor Franks then made reference to the petition submitted earlier in the meeting which requested that the Council reverse its decision to not pay the re3 subsidy payment, thereby allowing continued access to the Smallmead HWRC. Councillor Franks gave the view that it would be difficult to reverse this decision as the financial saving had been incorporated in the 2016/17 budget and if the decision was reversed, then an alternative saving would need to be found from elsewhere within the Council’s budget.

Concern was also raised in the petition of a potential steep increase in fly tipping. Councillor Franks stated that the Council would be vigilant on the offence of fly tipping and would prosecute offenders. However, he expected that residents would continue to dispose of their waste responsibly.

Councillor Alan Macro highlighted that discussions with Veolia should have been progressed with a greater level of urgency when considering that West Berkshire residents would be unable to access the Smallmead facility from 1 July 2016. He questioned when an extension to the Padworth HWRC could be achieved.

Councillor Franks explained that considerations had been ongoing in relation to Padworth, there had however been issues to resolve with the planning application. The decision to withdraw funding from re3 had been brought forward due to the need to identify savings, before Padworth discussions were able to conclude. The decision made by Hampshire County Council was a contributing financial factor.

Once the planning application had been submitted to Veolia, it would be subject to a 13 week planning process, but this would not commence until decisions had been taken by the Executive. Subject to planning permission being granted, it was anticipated that works to make Padworth a full waste site would take up to six months to complete.

Councillor Macro gave the view that it would have been preferable to continue to pay re3 until the Padworth extension had been completed.

Councillor Macro then stated the view that a greater level of publicity was needed to inform members of the public of these developments. Councillor Franks advised that communications had taken place in the form of newspaper advertisements, information had been made available in libraries, leisure centres and on the Council website, information had also been shared with all parish councils and Ward Members. Communications would continue. Councillor Franks added that developments were also being promoted by re3.

Councillor Graham Jones pointed out that cross border arrangements of this type were coming to a close across the country and added that Councillor Franks, with Officers, was looking to find solutions for West Berkshire’s residents without incurring additional cost.

Councillor Franks then gave thanks to Councillor Macro for his well balanced and factual letter on this matter which had been published in the Newbury Weekly News.

Councillor Macro asked whether information to confirm these altered arrangements would be provided to householders on their waste bins as efforts were needed to avoid residents being turned away at the Smallmead site. Councillor Franks confirmed this was the intention and this would take place late July/early August 2016 to coincide with information being provided on collection date changes due to the August Bank Holiday.

Councillor Macro then queried the estimated cost of implementing the residents permit scheme and of enforcing this. Councillor Franks confirmed that the detail of this would be worked upon with Veolia, subject to Executive approval, but costs had already been estimated of £9,000. Councillor Franks also gave an assurance that the necessary information would be sent to each household on this development.

Councillor Lee Dillon felt that following the completion of works to make Padworth a full waste site, the use of the Padworth HWRC was likely to increase and bring with that an increase in traffic movements. He queried whether an increased use of both the Padworth and Newtown Road HWRCs could be accommodated. Councillor Franks responded that Padworth and Newtown Road had additional capacity.

Councillor Dillon then queried whether staffing levels would increase at the HWRCs. Councillor Franks explained that this was an aspect which formed part of the discussions with Veolia, but the expectation was that levels of service would be maintained.

Councillor Anthony Chadley made the point that many residents living in the east of the district utilised the Smallmead site. However, access to Smallmead was not straightforward and Councillor Chadley felt that the Padworth HWRC was accessible to residents living in the east of the district.

RESOLVED that:

·         new measures would be introduced to control access to the Council’s HWRC services; including a resident permit scheme and a booking system for residents using commercial type vehicles.

·         the extension of the Padworth HWRC service in conjunction with the above point would be explored with the Council’s Waste Management Contractor.

Reason for the decision: To mitigate the effects of the closure of access for West Berkshire Residents to the Smallmead HWRC.

Other options considered: As set out in Appendix D.