Agenda and minutes

The Waste Manager, Streetpride, submitted the proposed fees and charges for the collection of Clinical Waste from other Council Directorates and Departments.

The proposed prices had been reviewed to take account of the increasing cost of collecting, treating and disposing of clinical waste.  During the previous year the Council’s provider for Hazardous Clinical Waste treatment had increased its charges from £666 per tonne to £722.  There was no alternative but to carry on with the current provider as they held a virtual monopoly within the local area.

The proposed prices were as follows:-

Resolved:-  That the proposed fees and charges for the collection of Clinical Waste from other Council Directorates and Departments be approved for implementation as from 1^st April, 2011.

The Waste Manager, Streetpride, submitted the proposed charges to customers for the collection and disposal of bulky items and special collections from households with effect from 1^st April, 2011.

The price review had taken account of the costs to be incurred by the Council during the review period including the effect of inflation and the Government’s announced increase in Landfill Tax by a further £8 per tonne to £56 per tonne.

The full implementation of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations (WEEE) on 1^st July, 2007, had increased the number of items which could no longer be sent to landfill.  The requirement to segregate more waste added to collection costs but the implementation of the WEEE Directive and the “producer pays” principle reduced the Council’s processing costs.  All the Housing Recycling Centres were now registered as Designated Collection Facilities for WEEE.  An agreement had been made with a Producer Compliance Scheme which now met the processing costs for fridges and televisions previously paid for by the Council.

The WEEE savings did not fully offset the costs associated with the Service, therefore, it was proposed that prices for Standard Collections were increased by 5%.

The WEEE savings also did not extend to Special Collections (DIY waste, house clearances etc.).  Inflation and Landfill Tax increases in the subsequent years meant it was not possible to continue to hold those prices at the 2010/11 level.  It was, therefore, proposed that the price charged to customers be increased by 10%.

Full details of the proposed charges were as follows:-

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 Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended March 2006) to the Local Government Act 1972 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council)).

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council)).

The Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on the recent Local Government Finance Settlement which had included Rotherham’s Homelessness Prevention Grant.

Rotherham had received £168,870, an increase on the previous Homelessness Grant for 2009/10.  This level of grant was guaranteed for each of the years 2011/12 and 2012/13 and was likely to be set at a similar level for 2013/14 and 2014/15.

In addition Rotherham was 1 of 50 Councils that had recently received notification of £75,000 funding to assist tenants wanting to move from larger family homes to smaller more manageable homes.

The report detailed how both funding streams could be utilised.  The proposed activity included:-

-        Gaps in Service provision

-        Decants for emergency temporary moves from Council homes

-        Young people with moderate to substantial learning difficulties

-        Targeting under occupation

Resolved:-  (1)  That the spending proposals set out in the report submitted be approved.

(2)  That a report be submitted on the work of the Under Occupancy Officer, 6 months after being in post.

(3)  That a press release be issued on the work of the Under Occupancy Officer who would be a dedicated officer to help finding residents suitable new homes.

(Exempt under Paragraph 3 of the Act - information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council))

Further to Minute No. 95 of 24^th January, 2011, the Director of Housing and Neighbourhood Services sought approval to accept a tender for the design and construction of 5 new build dwellings at Whitehill Road, Brinsworth.

Procurement of the works was made under the Yorbuild framework, on a negotiated tender basis.  The Yorbuild framework enabled the prices to be benchmarked and checked for competitiveness.

Unless the new Council houses were built and completed in accordance with the HCA’s timetable, there was a risk that the grant would be withdrawn.  The Planning Board was to consider planning permission at its meeting on 24^th February, 2011.  Unless planning permission was granted and/or a contractor procured to enable a start on site by 25^th February, 2011, the scheme would fail and granting funding could be withdrawn.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the tender submitted by Bramall Construction Ltd., dated 10^th February, 2011, in the sum of £481,492.00, be approved.

(2)  That the total project cost, including on costs and professional fees, be £596,834.00.

(DUE TO THE URGENCY OF THE ABOVE, THE APPROVAL OF THE MAYOR WAS SOUGHT TO EXEMPT THE MINUTE FROM THE PROVISIONS OF THE CALL-IN PROCESS.  APPROVAL WAS GRANTED ON 18^TH FEBRUARY, 2011)