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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1 - Civic Centre. View directions

Contact: Meryl Lawrence  Scrutiny Adviser

Items
No. Item

1.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

None.

2.

Minutes of the Meetings held on 10 and 24 June 2019 pdf icon PDF 117 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meetings held on 10 and 24 June 2019 were approved as a true and accurate record.

 

3.

Recommendations Monitoring - Budget Proposals 2019-20 pdf icon PDF 128 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies from the Strategic Director – Place, the Head of City Services and the Head of People and Business Change were passed to the Committee, as the Officers were unable to attend the Committee meeting.

 

City Services

 

Attendee:

-      Steve Davies (Senior Strategy Manager, City Services.)

 

The Senior Strategy Manager, City Services presented a brief overview to the Committee and highlighted the key areas for consideration as follows:

 

-      CS1920/06 - Refuse Collection – Review of Charging for Waste Special Collections

Projection that saving would be achieved.

 

-      CS1920/07 – Off Street Parking – Changes to Council Parking Charges

Projection that full saving would be achieved.

 

-      CS1920/08 – Customer Services – Reduction in Customer Services Operating Hours – Information Station only

Full saving had been achieved.

 

-      CS1920/10 – Introduce Parking Charges within Tredegar Park and Fourteen Locks

·      It was anticipated that the full saving would not be achieved in Year 1 because of the unavoidable delay due to the statutory consultation process for traffic orders.

 

Members asked the following:

 

CS1920/06 - Refuse Collection – Review of Charging for Waste Special Collections

·      A Member referred to the statement on page 21: “There has been no increase in the tonnage of reported fly tipping across the city between April and June when compared to the same period in 2018” and queried whether there had been an increase in fly tipping incidents. Members were advised that the service area monitored the tonnage of waste, which could have variations month to month. Fly tipping could also vary seasonally, reports were recorded, and the information could be provided to Members however, there had not been an increase in fly tipping.

    

·      A Member referred to the smaller refuse bins, which had increased recycling and asked if the officers could provide ward-by-ward analysis of recycling amounts, so hotspots could be identified and wards that were struggling could have more resources to help them to recycle. Members were advised that the total weight of recycling was collated by recycling round, and it would be difficult to match up to Wards.

 

·      A Member enquired how CCTV and camera investment for fly tipping hotspots were progressing.  Members were advised that there was a Capital bid to purchase and Officers would be meeting with the Procurement team this week, so should be ready after the tender process.

 

·      A Member asked if within the budget, there was enough resources to enforce fly tipping. Members were advised that there were resources, however, it was difficult to prosecute without either evidence being found in the waste, or a signed witness statement obtained as evidence.  Fly tipping usually came from commercial origins who were careful not to leave any evidence behind, so successful prosecution numbers were quite low.

 

·      A Member referred to properties with no front gardens where recycling and bins were sometimes overflowing and litter could be left behind after collection, and asked would there be anything in the budget to clean pavements.  Members were advised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Waste Strategy Action Plan Monitoring pdf icon PDF 103 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Attendee:

-      Silvia Gonzalez-Lopez (Waste Service Manager, City Services)

 

The Waste Service Manager presented the Draft Newport Waste Strategy 2019-2025 to the Committee to provide context.  The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee had considered a report upon the Wales Audit Office Waste Service Follow Up Review in March 2019, and referred the Monitoring of the Action Plan to this Committee, as it was within its remit.  The Waste Service Manager gave a presentation of the Draft Waste Strategy and the new Action Plan to the Committee.  All actions included in the Draft Strategy are part of the City Services Service Plan monitored by the Committee on a six monthly basis.

 

Members asked the following:

 

·      A Member enquired about the nature of the proposed second site.  The Waste Service Manager advised that the second site would be like the Household Waste Recycling Centre on Docks Way.

 

·      A Member referred to the recycling targets stated on page 35 of the report asked about potential to meet future increases to recycling targets above 70% from Household Waste.  Members were advised that there was no higher target than 70% set by Welsh Government, and that targets had only been set until 2025 presently.

 

·      A Member asked how much of the 64% 2019/20 target for minimum overall recycling was household waste?  Members were advised that this was up to each Council and that the total performance was calculated on total tonnage.

 

·      Members discussed food waste, and a Member enquired whether there was a food waste and recycling collection service for restaurants and businesses. It was advised that the Council did not collect and that legislation does not require businesses to food recycle however, this would change in the future and business would need to have proper waste streams for collections in place. While such services could be developed for businesses in the future, the businesses could choose which company would provide their service.

 

·      A Member enquired about recycling enforcement and monitoring. Members were advised that excess waste is monitored, and people generate waste within their allocated capacity, but sometimes put recycling in refuse bins. The Service area monitors the recycling and speaks to people where identifiable and that the main objective is to create a behaviour change.

 

·      A Member commended the Action Plan as a comprehensive document with really good  performance levels, and asked how much of the recycling material collected was recycled and where it went.  Members were advised that the Council had a duty to report what is collected on a quarterly basis, not only by tonnage collected but also what material was sent for treatment and where. An example was given of glass which is taken to Cwmbran, it had to be ensured that the property was permitted and then reported where the items went from there. Once the premises took ownership of material then the Council could report. The Officer advised that the benefit of kerbside collections was that the materials quality were good compared to others in the waste industry.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

Scrutiny Adviser Reports pdf icon PDF 123 KB

a)       Forward Work Programme Update (Appendix 1)

b)       Action Sheet (Appendix 2)

 

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Attendee:

-      Meryl Lawrence (Scrutiny Adviser)

 

a)           Forward Work Programme Update

 

The Scrutiny Adviser presented the Forward Work Programme, and informed the Committee of the topics due to be discussed at the next two Committee meetings:

 

Monday 4 November 2019 at 4pm, the agenda item;

         2019-20 Service Plan Mid-Year Reviews for:

-        Law and Regulation

-        Finance

-        People and Business Change

 

Monday 18 November 2019 at 4pm, the agenda item;

         2019-20 Service Plan Mid-Year Reviews for:

-        Regeneration Investment and Housing

-        City Services

 

         The Committee agreed the topics as above.

 

b)          Action Sheet

 

The Scrutiny Adviser presented the Action Sheet and advised the Committee that as indicated in the table the actions from the previous meetings had been completed.