Agenda and minutes

For information, disclosable pecuniary interests and registrable interests relate to entries that are included, or should be included,  on a councillor’s register of interests. Non-registrable interests relate to any other matters. 

No disclosures were made.

No declarations were made.

The minutes of the meeting held on 11th May 2022 were confirmed as a correct record.

No questions had been submitted.

In accordance with the scrutiny scope document, to identify barriers and look at ways to overcome them (recycling).

Key task commenced at Panel meeting on 11th May 2022. To be completed at this meeting (see Waste Management Scrutiny Panel Minute 27, 11th May 2022).

In accordance with the scrutiny scope document (key tasks), considered and discussed, identify barriers and look at ways to overcome them (recycling).

Consideration of this key task had been commenced at Panel meeting on 11th May 2022 (see Waste Management Scrutiny Panel Minute 27 – 11th May 2022). To be completed at this meeting via input from J. Ardley (Community Warden, Loughborough University), input from Council tenants (agenda pages 7-8) and presentation of the Head of Cleansing and Open Spaces setting out Collection Round data.

Key points of discussion:

(i)        Input from J. Ardley – University focus was education of students re: waste management/recycling, worked very closely with N. Gibson (Charnwood Borough Council) in that respect, ongoing and repeated process as students changed. Students from all over country/world, those living off campus needed to be aware of particular requirements in Charnwood.  Report expected by end August 2022 on end of year clear out outcomes, happy for Panel to be sent copy once available, Panel would welcome this.  Reference to similar initiative March 2022, more than £2k raised via that, also received impact assessments from charities involved. Had tried to increase reuse and recycling, reduce waste to landfill, would continue to do so.  Statutory authority was Borough Council, but University worked to support via education/dealing with any problems.  Sustainability increasingly on agenda.     

(ii)       Question, what had 2022 end of year clear out event comprised, how differed from previous years?  In response, N. Gibson/S. Ritchie (Borough Council) could best outline. Lots of publicity/education.  Lessons learnt from event in March 2022, had been quite challenging as items collected for several different charities, detailed.  Simpler approach for 2022 end of year, arranged with landlords for them to receive Air Ambulance (AA) charity collection bags for use by students who moved out early, then a main collection event 27/28 June where week before AA delivered bags to every student property for donations, work also undertaken to encourage participation, outlined. Landlords had assisted, particular landlord had put boxes outside each of his properties with list of what could be donated, then taken to food banks or passed to University for AA.

(iii)      Discussion re: problem with end of year clear out in 2022, not occurred previous years, possibly in part due to longer period of time between most students leaving and then additional waste collection by Council on 4 July?  Many bags ripped open, witnessed or evidenced in some cases that street homeless were checking through (asked where witnessed if those persons needed help) resulted in large amounts of rubbish in streets, mixing of items previously correctly sorted and bagged.  Some members of Panel already aware of these events having spoken with residents/had seen.  Difficult to see, made it appear that many students had not acted correctly, but vast majority had.  Suggestions welcomed as to how could be prevented.  Couple of cases where students had not dealt with end of year waste correctly, firm action taken by J. Ardley and how all students then remedied outlined.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The scrutiny scope document, updated following the last Panel meeting, is attached. To consider, following the work undertaken at this meeting, whether the tasks set out have all been completed.

To note that a final meeting of the Panel will need to be scheduled (to agree the Panel’s recommendations and report).  This will be a physical meeting, venue to be confirmed.

The Panel confirmed that all tasks set out in the scrutiny scope document had now been completed, although a visit by members of the Panel to the Casepak Materials Recycling Facility had not yet been undertaken.  That would be useful and the Head of Cleansing and Open Spaces would continue to try to arrange, but was dependent on facility accommodating.

The Chair stated that a final meeting of the Panel would now need to be scheduled (to agree the Panel’s recommendations and report). This would be a physical meeting, date/time and venue to be confirmed. Noted that prior to the meeting, the Democratic Services Officer (LS) would draft the Panel’s report and then circulate to the members of the Panel for them to include suggested recommendations.

AGREED

That the above position be noted and actioned.