Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 4th February, 2013 were considered.

Resolved:- That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet Member and Advisers for Waste and Emergency Planning, as now submitted, be agreed as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

Consideration was given to the update provided by the Emergency and Safety Manager.  The update included: -

(a) Business Continuity – training continues on the BCM shared system; the recovery plan is almost complete and will be the focus of the training exercise which will take place during May, 2013; awareness sessions during April and May, about recovery and restoration, will support the corporate training exercise;

(b) Emergency Planning – the maps for the Reservoir Inundation Plan are almost complete; the South Yorkshire temporary mortuary plan is being developed; a workshop was organised in conjunction with the lead officer from Neighbourhoods to progress the Community Resilience Plan template. Representatives from the Parish Councils at Anston, Firbeck, Maltby, Catcliffe, Woodsetts and Wickersley attended a session about emergency planning; a report has been produced on the Sheffield council wide exercise ‘Exercise Trio’;  actions and recommendations (lessons learned) included in the report will be integrated into current response arrangements predominantly in Sheffield and some will also be adopted in Rotherham.

(c) Health, Welfare and Safety – staff have conducted a follow-up inspection of the Bailey House museum workshop and storage area; various improvements to systems are being made; staff involved in an investigation of an accident at a town centre retail premises; guidance on health and safety is being prepared for schools.

Resolved:- That the update be noted and the Emergency and Safety Manager be thanked for his contribution.

Consideration was given to the update provided by the Waste Manager, Environment and Development Services.  The update included:-

(a) contractual issues with Veolia (waste arisings; implications for the Borough Council; BDR meeting;

(b) discussions are continuing with trades union representatives in respect of the Waste Operations local agreement.

(c) Members agreed with the arrangements for the Service involvement with the Rotherham Hospital Charity fundraising.

Resolved:- That the update be noted and the Waste Manager be thanked for his contribution.

The following item is likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended March 2006 – information relates to finance and business affairs).

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 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended (information relating to the financial/business affairs of any person (including the Council)).

Consideration was given to a report presented by the Waste Manager outlining the scale of charges to be implemented for the collection and disposal of commercial waste with effect from 1st April, 2013. The proposed charges take account of the increase in the Retail Price Index applied to operational costs and contracts and the further increase in the Landfill Tax by £8.00 per tonne. A number of proposals recommending changes to the payment system were also explained in the submitted report, in order to improve income recovery and minimise non-payment for the service provided.

Members discussed the information in the report concerning:-

: proposed scale of charges for commercial waste collection;

: proposed scale of charges for collection for charitable organisations;

: proposed scale of charges for collection from Borough Council internal premises;

: payment options available to the customer, for commercial waste charges;

: commercial waste collection service – benchmarking information from other similar local authorities.

Resolved:- (1) That the report be received and its contents noted.

(2) That the proposed Scale of Charges to be applied to the Commercial Waste Service with effect from 1st April, 2013, as detailed in the report now submitted, be approved.

(3) That the proposed changes to be applied to the collection of income for the provision of the Service, including the payment of an administration fee where applicable, be approved.

(4) That the commercial waste collection service shall provide a minimum weekly collection frequency, to maximise the efficiency of the collection operation.