Agenda item

Cabinet Portfolio:                 Waste, Roads and Community Safety

Strategic Directorate:           Regeneration and Environment

Consideration was given to a report which was submitted by the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment to provide an update on the implementation of new waste and recycling services across Rotherham, and provide information on the key implementation activities, communications, engagement approach and flats project.

Members queried what progress had been made in respect of the communications strategy supporting the service changes and whether information could be forwarded to all councillors. Officers confirmed that they would share the information outside of the meeting. Furthermore, engagement had already commenced at the Rotherham Show on the previous weekend, where there had been positive feedback. Officers had also attended the Parish Council Liaison Group to discuss the service changes and the process that would be followed. It was also explained that a lot of engagement had taken place online through the Council’s website and social media platforms. In addition, every household in the borough would receive a letter notifying residents of the changes.

Focusing on arrangements for apartment blocks, Members queried whether there would be exceptions to the proposed recycling process where everything would go into general waste. In response it was confirmed that the approach was to introduce recycling to all flats and that work was ongoing with colleagues in Housing Services to offer recycling opportunities for all residents.

Clarification was sought as to how low recycling areas had been identified and it was explained that records and experience of delivering the service were used. The service had started to look at how that impacted on anti-social behaviour and working with colleagues in Community Safety and other teams across the Council to engage with local groups. Following on from a question concerning engagement with staff across the authority, assurances were provided that there had been significant cross directorate working with involvement from Customer Services, Communications and Housing Services. The trial projects had included Housing Officers who had helped to select areas for trial. Their understanding of localities and the issues on the ground had proved very helpful in developing the approach to implementation.

Members sought assurances that the letter to be sent to all households would be user friendly. It was explained that the same approach had been used for communicating as had been adopted for the consultation. It was further explained that the communications approach had been tested with an older people’s group who had fed back that it needed to be much simpler. This was taken into account and the content changed accordingly.

Clarification was sought as to whether negotiations with BDR Waste Partnership would end on a positive note. In response, it was confirmed that discussions had been positive to date and that a resolution was expected in November 2018.

Members welcomed the update and the progress that had been made to date. Recognising the importance of getting the service changes right and ensuring wider oversight of the changes, the Board

Resolved:–

1.    That the update be noted.

2.    That a further report be submitted in February 2019 to provide an update on implementation of the first stage of the service change.

3.    That further update reports and the final review of the implementation of the service changes after February 2019 be submitted to the Improving Places Select Commission.