The Waste Management Review has been produced to identify key issues and challenges facing the Authority in the short to medium term.
Various options have been identified by the Department as potential solutions to these key service delivery and financial issues.
It is evident that this process is only the commencement of the exercise and regular reviews and updates will feature as part of a development plan for Waste Management to comply and facilitate the Scrutiny process.
Considerable work is necessary to identify individual cost centres/categories for Street Cleansing and Public Conveniences. Also work carried out on Refuse and Recycling will be constantly analysed and monitored to aid accurate decision making for Committee and Cabinet purposes.
The Cleansing Services Best Value Review 2001 recommendations have been addressed and resolved in the report, excepting one minor issue in respect of the client/contractor split.
Where appropriate and compatible with our main core service work further business opportunities will be analysed to generate additional income potential for the Authority. Spend to save principles will be fully investigated.
The Authority has very recently considered joining the Shropshire Waste Partnership and subject to Cabinet's final decision on the 19th May 2003, will not approve our formal agreement to join the group. We will, however, continue to work wherever possible to maximise Waste Management benefits and opportunities for the Authority.
The Recycling Plan 3rd draft attached to the report is constantly under review and will be amended later this year following public consultation on the document and amended targets. (Refer to Appendix No 8).
A considerable amount of work has been undertaken on Green Waste/Recycling consultation. This needs to be extended Service-wide to incorporate Refuse Collection, Street Cleansing and Public Conveniences.
Work is underway to amalgamate services resources where appropriate and compatible under the Street Scene umbrella. Litter picking and other similar cleansing activities are those initial activities considered to be the most beneficial to improve standards for the general public and visitors.
In conclusion we have commenced a process of business planning to build on a good range of services to the local Council Taxpayer. The preliminary work and benchmarking on the base Refuse Collection service demonstrates a performance which is offering good value to the Authority. We see no reason at this juncture to recommend that we enter into a tender situation for the service.
SUMMARY
Members are asked to support the recommendations listed in this report. If service personnel are affected by members decisions contained in this report there is potential and scope for redeployment across the range of services. This is due to current vacancies for street cleansing operatives and a number of permanent posts occupied by agency personnel.
