Agenda item

RESOLVED:

The Cabinet agreed that:

Reasons for decisions

At present there is spare capacity at the CRC network because of a reduction in throughput due to the previous changes. An adequate service can be retained if the above additional efficiency measures are implemented that will achieve an estimated cost reduction in a full year of £1.08 - £1.56 million. Table 3 in paragraph 43 gives a breakdown by efficiency measure. These recommendations take note of the views expressed in the public consultation and, the impact to the public (including those with protected characteristics) and the environment. If these recommendations are introduced it will reduce costs and provide better value for money for the Surrey taxpayer, whilst still maintaining a comprehensive service that supports the strategic aims of increasing recycling and reducing landfill, and meets its legal requirements as a Waste Disposal Authority.

[The decisions on this item can be called in by the Environment and Infrastructure Select Committee]

The Cabinet received a statement from Mr Jonathan Essex, Local Member for Redhill East. In his statement, Mr Essex made the following observations:

·         The Member welcomed  that the recommendations contained within the report did not propose closure of any of Surrey’s CRCS stating that this demonstrated the Cabinet had listened to some of the concerns of residents as expressed during the public consultation. Mr Essex did, however, articulate his concerns about the potential implications of reducing the opening hours of CRCs suggesting that it could increase instances of flytipping in the county and could discourage residents from recycling.

·         'He stressed that in line with supporting the amended motion at the council meeting that SCC had committed to investigate further options to improve the recycling service and that increasing recycling to meet our recycling target instead would save 5-6 million pounds, as confirmed by officers at the recent Environment and Infrastructure Select Committee. SCC should look to accelerate improvement of recycling rates across Surrey to exceed our 70 per cent target through 'invest to save' measures as an alternative to the current proposals. Also investing in new recycling (as opposed to energy from waste) infrastructure would give SCC an added incentive to raise recycling rates.

The Cabinet received a statement from Mr Stephen Cooksey, Local Member for Dorking South and the Holmwoods. Mr Cooksey made the following points in his statement:

·         The Member stated that CRCs had been one of SCC’s few success stories over recent years by deterring flytipping and enhancing recycling rates. The package of extended closure times and removal of the free daily allowance of chargeable waste proposed within the report would make it more difficult for people to recycle and, as a result, could lead to more flytipping and less recycling.

·         Attention was drawn to the 13,000 responses submitted during the public consultation which Mr Cooksey used to highlight the strength of feeling that existed among Surrey residents about the importance of CRCs.

·         Particular concerns were expressed about Dorking CRC which, if the recommendations were agreed, would be closed four days a week. The Member suggested that Cabinet Members from the Mole Valley area should oppose the recommendations based on that fact alone.

·         Mr Cooksey criticised the lack of clarity in the report stressing that projections had not been provided on flytipping, recycling rates or the potential revenue arising from the sale of recycled goods.

·         Finally, the Member suggested that removal of the free daily allowance could be open to legal challenge and that this should be investigated in more detail by the Council.

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, Mr Mike Goodman, introduced the report and highlighting that the public consultation was fundamental in shaping the future of CRCs and that no decision had be taken on them prior to the  consultation taking place. Mr Goodman thanked all of the residents and stakeholders who had taken part in the consultation. The Cabinet Member stated that the consultation process had also encompassed discussions with district and borough councils as well as local Members to arrive at the recommendations, a revised set of which were tabled at the meeting and are attached to these minutes as Appendix 6. A list of proposed CRC opening hours was also tabled at the meeting and is attached to these minutes as Appendix 7. It was noted that no Liberal Democrat Councillor  had made representations by letter or email to the Cabinet Member during the consultation phase to help shape the future of CRCs in the County. Mr Goodman divulged that more savings were required and that it would be necessary to find these within other parts of the service.

Mr Goodman responded to the specific point raised by Mr Essex in regard to generating income through recycling and reducing the cost of waste disposal. He highlighted that SCC has been working with district and borough councils through the Surrey Waste Partnership in a bid to drive up recycling rates across the County which would help to deliver savings for SCC and its district and borough partners. He also drew attention to efforts being made by the Council to improve recycling rates in flats but indicated that although improvements were being made they would take a while to fully embed. Mr Goodman advised that SCC was looking to invest in infrastructure to generate more income through the sale of recycled goods stating this goal would take place in the medium to long term.

The Cabinet Member stressed that he understood residents’ concerns about potential increases in flytipping due to reduced CRC opening hours but highlighted that these concerns were not supported by evidence. Flytipping had continued to fall in the County despite previous reductions in CRC opening hours on account of the Council’s robust strategy for tackling flytipping, a strategy which had been replicated nationally due to its success. Mr Goodman indicated that the service was in the process of developing a system that would provide data to enable SCC to target its efforts to tackle flytipping more effectively while work with landowners would continue to prosecute those who dump waste on private land.

The Cabinet Member advised that CRCs, in tandem with improved sorting of black bags had improved recycling rates by 2.7%. Improving recycling rates further would rely on educating residents on bringing refuse to CRCs to maximise the amount which can be recycled. It is hoped that doing this will drive a further £400,000 in savings over the coming years. Increasing the number of recycling shops will also maximise the benefit to the County by passing on some of the income generated to charities.

The Cabinet Member for Highways reiterated residents’ concerns about flytipping and emphasised that the majority of offenders are individuals who charge to pick up refuse and then dump it a few hundred metres along the road. Residents should ensure that they employe reputable companies to pick up waste who will dispose of it responsibly. In regard to CRCs, Mr Kemp highlighted that ordinarily visits to the tip are planned occasions rather than done on a whim. SCC was simply asking residents to work with them in order to achieve the savings that the Council is required to make by planning visits to CRCs around the revised opening hours as outlined in the tabled schedule. The Cabinet Member asked Mr Goodman where the additional savings that the service was required to make would come from. He was informed that the Council would work with Suez to design a programme that would drive further efficiencies from the existing contract.

Mr Mel Few, Cabinet Member for Adults, suggested that composting green waste and selling it at CRCs could generate some income for the Council, Mr Goodman confirmed that he would investigate this proposal in more detail.

Mr Goodman was asked whether people who live in Surrey can still use Crawley CRC as it is the closest tip for some residents and he confirmed that Crawley CRCs was still open to people who reside in Surrey.

The Leader of the Council indicated that by listening to residents’ concerns as captured by the public consultation, the Cabinet had demonstrated the core values that underpin what SCC does. He thanked officers for the work they had done which had enabled the Council to keep all of its CRCs open despite its significant financial challenges.

RESOLVED:

The Cabinet agreed that:

Reasons for decisions

At present there is spare capacity at the CRC network because of a reduction in throughput due to the previous changes. An adequate service can be retained if the above additional efficiency measures are implemented that will achieve an estimated cost reduction in a full year of £1.08 - £1.56 million. Table 3 in paragraph 43 gives a breakdown by efficiency measure. These recommendations take note of the views expressed in the public consultation and, the impact to the public (including those with protected characteristics) and the environment. If these recommendations are introduced it will reduce costs and provide better value for money for the Surrey taxpayer, whilst still maintaining a comprehensive service that supports the strategic aims of increasing recycling and reducing landfill, and meets its legal requirements as a Waste Disposal Authority.