Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Moorgate Street, Rotherham

Contact: Dawn Mitchell, 822062  Email: dawn.mitchell@rotherham.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

106.

Holocaust Day

Minutes:

Members held a minute’s silence in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.

107.

Questions from members of the public and the press.

Minutes:

The member of the public present did not wish to ask any questions.

108.

Declarations of Interest.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.

109.

Municipal Waste Management Strategy

- presentation by Enviros

Minutes:

Adrian Gabriel, Waste Strategy Manager, gave a presentation to the Scrutiny Panel on Rotherham’s future Waste Management Service covering:-

 

§                     The traditional services

§                     Customer focused, easy to use Waste Services

§                     The challenge to reduce waste

§                     Medium and Long Term Strategy

§                     Reduce landfill

§                     Landfill allowances

§                     Waste Strategy Options

§                     Progress

 

Discussion ensued on the presentation with the following points raised:-

 

-              A “soft” approach was being piloted in the north of the Borough to encourage increased participation in recycling by the posting of leaflets to properties not currently using the service.  The restructuring of the Waste Team would also enable 2 officers to “door knock” to further aid the effort.

-              Some parish halls facilitated business functions where funds were raised.  Businesses and charities were not allowed to dispose of waste at household waste recycling centres.  Investigation could take place into the possibility of siting a bring site nearby that they could use.

 

John Lucas, Enviros Consulting Ltd., gave a presentation on the new technologies available for waste management including:-

 

§                     The role of new technologies

§                     Key issues

§                     Drivers for change

§                     What was biodegradable municipal waste

§                     Government response

§                     Mechanical Biological Treatment

§                     Biological – Aerobic and Anaerobic Digestion

§                     Mechanical Heat Treatment

§                     Advanced Thermal Treatment

§                     Refuse Derived Fuel

§                     Indicative costs

§                     Key Issues

 

Discussion ensued on the presentation with the following points highlighted:-

 

-              There were problems in collecting plastic due to its bulk for the low tonnages collected.  It did not contribute significantly to the Authority’s recycling performance so the focus had been on glass and paper.  If household waste collection moved to an alternate week basis, the bulk of residual waste would have to be reduced and may be that a plastics kerbside collection may be introduced.  Vehicle manufacturers were now looking at some form of shredder/roller to partially collapse bottles.

-              It was currently difficult to recycle all plastics because of the different types of plastics currently on the market.

-              The emissions from an incinerator had to be monitored, measured and controlled.  They were regulated to a very high level by the Environment Agency and had to comply with national legislative standards.

-              The green waste from cemeteries was composted and utilised in the cemeteries.

 

It was noted that a report containing recommendations for the way forward would be submitted to the 14th February Cabinet Member of Housing and Environmental Services’ meeting and the Environment Scrutiny Panel 24th followed by the Cabinet and the Council for adoption.

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That Adrian Gabriel and John Lucas be thanked for their informative presentations.

 

(2)  That a further report be submitted to the 24th February meeting of this Scrutiny Panel

110.

Exclusion of the press and public

Minutes:

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 and 8 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government act 1972 (accommodation provided by the Local Authority /expenditure proposed to be incurred by the Authority)

111.

Budget 2005/06

Minutes:

The Executive Director of Neighbourhoods, Finance and Accountancy Manager and Head of Neighbourhood Services gave a presentation on the Neighbourhoods Programme Area Budget 2005/06 highlighting:-

 

§                     Medium Term Financial Strategy

§                     Budget process

§                     What was proposed to be delivered for the budget

§                     General Fund budget (current proposals A, B, C and D list)

§                     Housing Revenue Account budget (fees and charges)

  • Additional Fees and Charges

-           Proposed to increase fees and charges in line with rents by 6.5% - the exceptions are:-

            Rothercare and Wardens Charges (which are linked to Supporting People Grant) 2% - the increase in grant levels;

            Communal Facilities – 2% increase in charges from £3.90 to £3.98

 

-           Rothercare and Wardens

-           Communal Facilities – 2% increase in charges from £3.90 to £3.98

 

  • Fees and Charges

      -           Garages – No increase

      -           Garage plots – proposed increase from £25 to £50

      -           Furnished Accommodation – proposed increase of 3%

 

Consideration was given to the A, B, C and D lists which had been prioritised by the Corporate Management Team.  However, it was noted that a number of items on B and C were legislative and therefore mandatory.  Discussion ensued with the following points raised:-

 

-              All the Performance Indicators were on track or had exceeded their target. 

-              It was important to align the Programme Area’s spend with the Corporate Plan.

-              Environmental/Neighbourhood Wardens should be mainstreamed and therefore moved to the A list.

 

Resolved:-  (1)  That the Scrutiny Panel’s views  and concerns in respect of the following be forwarded for consideration during the final stages of the 2005/06 budget:-

 

- That Environmental/Neighbourhood Wardens be moved from the B to the A list.

 

-  That further work be carried out to identify activities that could be reduced, stopped altogether or delivered through other means to enable higher priority activities to be carried out if they could not be supported corporately.

 

(2)  That the ALMO Excellence Plan be submitted to this Scrutiny Panel before 1st April, 2005.

 

(3)  That budget meetings for Scrutiny Panels be included in the preparation of the 2005/06 diary.