Agenda item

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Sustainability, Recycling and Waste)

The Chair introduced the report of the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Sustainability, Recycling and Waste to provide IS&G Scrutiny with the updated information regarding the rationale to substantiate the increase in garden waste subscription. The original report presented to Scrutiny on the 7th August had been updated and is contained herewith. This report would be subject to IS&G scrutiny approval be presented to Cabinet on the 29th August.

The Chair welcomed Councillor C Dean in the absence of the Portfolio Holder and the Executive Director Organisation who introduced the report, highlighting the following figures that had been requested by the Committee –

Ø  For a 30% drop in overall subscriptions an expected figure of £20,000 has been provided, however it should be noted that Lichfield saw a downturn in approximately £100.00. Even if Tamworth saw a downturn of 10% this would not have a significant budgetary impact.

Ø  Figures around CPI included, which showed that, had this been applied each year then the cost for the green waste collection would now already be £45.52.

Ø  A breakdown of related costs was included in the appendices (Pg 86). It was confirmed that the exact breakdown between Lichfield and Tamworth is Tamworth (32%) and Lichfield (68%).

Ø  If the annual green waste charge does not increase, then the cost to the budget would be £68,000.

Ø  Overall summary budgets have been included as requested.

The Committee made the following comments/observations and asked the following questions:

1. On appendix 5 (Pg 85) were the figures for 2018/19 actual or budget, and why were there only figures for this period and 24/25?

It was confirmed that these were budget, and that Officers had been asked to show the variance between when the service started and now.

2. Does the £20,000 figure for a 30% downturn consider reduction in costs such as transport or is this just the subscriptions?

Officers confirmed that if the Council lost £20,000 due to a reduction in subscriptions, whilst the cost depletion would go down it would not go down by £20,000.

The Operations Manager (Joint Waste Service) added that from experience, they have never known a loss of 30% from introducing a chargeable service and gave the example of when Lichfield put the price up by £4.00 in one year they only lost a minute amount of subscribers.

3. Clarification around why there are no bank charges showing for 18/19 and this increased to £10,000 for 24/25?

Tamworth’s accountant has confirmed that these figures have been submitted by the Lichfield accountant and they were reported at 0, they are unsure if at these times the fees were directly attributed to the service, but the figures are correct now.

In Favour – 5

Against – 1

Abstentions - 2