Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

            Councillor Thomas introduced the Review of Garden Waste Charges in Flintshire report which set out the outcome of the review and the associated financial assessment of the scheme.

            In January 2018 Cabinet approved the introduction of a £30 subscription charge for the collection of all garden waste and the new service commenced in April 2018.

            In the first year of the subscription process, 33,871 permits were sold which indicated that well over half of all residents previously using the service had subscribed for at least one bin to be collected under the new arrangement.  The actual take up exceeded the financial target set for the service and generated an additional £166k over the £800k target.

            The review considered the following areas and full details were outlined in the report:

·         The subscription rate for 2019;

·         The potential to extend the service to operate over a full year;

·         Payment mechanisms;

·         The use of technology to log payments and record collections; and

·         The potential to offer a reduced concessional rate for residents on benefits.

The Environment Overview and Scrutiny Facilitator provided details of the discussions which had taken place at the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 11^th December 2018, which were:

·         Larger bin to be provided and 2^nd bin for free;

·         The use of technology to be postponed until the opportunity for a larger bin was explored;

·         Disappointment that a reduced rate was not being offered for residents on benefits; and

·         Composting to be promoted.

Option 6 was proposed at the meeting, that the charge for the bin be set at £30 with any subsequent bin being free of charge, but the vote was lost.  The recommendations as outlined in the Cabinet report were put to the vote and were carried.

The Chief Executive added that the surplus income received that was over the target was being used across the service and subsidising services such as the Household Recycling Centres.

In response to a question from Councillor Attridge, the Chief Officer said that had been no increases in fly tipping since the introduction of the charge.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the continuation of the charging policy for the Garden Waste Service for 2019 and in subsequent years be supported;

(b)       That the existing charge of £30 for the Garden Waste Service be     approved;

(c)        That it be approved that from 2019, the annual review of the Garden Waste charge should be included in the annual portfolio review of fees and charges; and

(d)       That the service explore an alternative, technology based system to monitor payments and notify the waste collectors of a paid subscription, in readiness for the 2020 season and that £30k of the funds raised in the 2018/19 financial year be approved to fund the new arrangement.