Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence, if any.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors T.Bailey and G.Hayes.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2016 (previously circulated).

The Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 21 November 2016 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To note declarations of Members’ disclosable pecuniary interests, non-disclosable pecuniary interests and non-pecuniary interests in respect of items on the Agenda.

Councillors L.Chesterman, M.Cook, M.Cowan, S.Johnston and P.Zukowskyj declared non–pecuniary interests in the item on the Agenda as Members of Hertfordshire County Council.

To consider recommendations from the special meeting of the Cabinet on 9 January 2017 being held immediately before this meeting.

The Council considered the following recommendations from the Special Cabinet meeting on 9 January 2017:-

(Note:  The recommendations attached are subject to approval at the Special Cabinet meeting).

The Special Cabinet had considered the report of the Executive Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on options for the review of future garden waste collection.

The Special Cabinet, having fully considered all relevant matters NOTED the key findings of the consultation and AGREED:-

(1)       to the introduction of a charge for the existing garden waste collection service.

(2)       the following collection policies and operational procedures in connection with this garden waste collection service:

(1)     those who do not join the chargeable garden waste collection service would not have their garden waste collected.

(2)     those who joined the chargeable garden waste collection service would not be able to present kitchen food waste in this bin.

(3)     black refuse bins would not be collected if garden waste was presented in this bin.

(4)     food waste could temporarily be re-directed to the black refuse bin, until such time as an alternative collection and treatment solution could be found.

(5)     all of the Council’s other existing collection requirements under Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 would apply to all waste collections.

It was noted that the Cabinet had agreed that the following recommendation in the report:-

“RECOMMEND the Council to approve any consequential amendments to the Waste Management Plan and any other Council policies necessary to incorporate the above.”

be amended to read as follows:-

“To delegate authority to the Executive Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services), in consultation with the Executive Member (Environment) to make any consequential amendments to the Waste Management Plan and any other Council policies necessary to implement the new garden waste collection system.”

The Leader of the Council made the following statement:-

“I am pleased to inform the Council that the Cabinet has tonight resolved to adopt a system of charging for the collection of garden waste. This is in line with more than 50% of all the councils up and down the country and it is of course necessary as a result of the major financial pressures being felt by us all.

I am satisfied that we have now given this very serious matter a full airing over an extended period of time, with detailed briefings by officers, questions from the public, questions from members, motions at the council, a petition, and a full consultation exercise with all residents.

The decision to change to a charging system is an executive decision which can only be taken by the Cabinet, so we have done that.

The Council is being asked tonight to agree the level of the charges as outlined in the report, to approve a one-off capital budget of £100,000 to implement the changes, and to delegate authority to the Executive Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) in consultation with the Executive Member (Environment) to make any consequential amendments to the Waste Management Plan and any other council policies necessary to implement the new garden waste collection system.”

A suggestion was made that the Cabinet should give consideration to the charge not being payable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37a