Issue - meetings

(a)       That the Committee endorsed the portfolio pressures and investments; and

(b)       That the Committee endorsed the portfolio efficiency options.

                        The Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) introduced a report on the stage 2 budget proposals for Streetscene and Transportation Portfolio and part of the Planning, Environment & Economy Portfolio for 2019/20.  He provided background information and referred to the workshop held on 11 October, which had provided Members with the opportunity to understand portfolio budgets in more detail and the risks and resilience levels of service areas.  The Chief Officer reported on the portfolio pressures and investments and Portfolio business planning efficiencies as detailed in the report concerning Streetscene and Transportation. 

Councillor Paul Shotton referred to the reduction in income from waste recycling.  The Chief Officer explained that the income from recycling waste, and cited plastic, card and paper as an example, had dropped significantly due to the loss of international markets and referred to the initiatives which were taking place to sustain the market.

In response to a question from Cllr Paul Shotton regarding the potential to use plastic as a replacement for Bitumen to repair road surfaces and potholes, the Chief Officer Streetscene and Transportation advised that discussion was taking place with a local company regarding this and it was intended that a sample batch of material would be provided for trial in the near future.  Members would be invited to visit the company to look at the product and when further information was available a report would submitted to scrutiny on the findings.

Councillor Mike Peers raised a number of queries.  He referred to the income from external works (Fleet Workshop) which was recorded as £0.010m in the report, and said on page 3 of the resilience statement it was stated as £10.00.  He also asked for clarification as to whether 3 weekly waste collections were part of the proposals at the current time.  Councillor Peers referred to the saving for 2015/16 of £30k on the closure of the information centre at Mold bus station, and said that it appeared the money was being spent processing the grant funding.  The Chief Officer confirmed that the bus station grant was from the Welsh Government and that the £30k referred to was a revenue saving from closure of the small Information centre at Mold Bus Station. 

Councillor Carolyn Thomas advised that a decision had not been made yet regarding a 3 weekly waste collection service but commented that due to the latest budget settlement and further reductions in funding it was not possible to rule out as a potential budget saving at the present time.  She added that changing to a 3 weekly waste collection service could realise a saving of £800k.

In response to a question from Councillor Owen Thomas regarding side waste, the Chief Officer referred to the procedures used to address the problem of side waste which was left for collection.  He advised that 1,400 warning letters had been issued to residents and businesses and said that only 30-40 cases had progressed to the second stage to warn of a notice being issued.  The Chief Officer reported  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21