Panel dismisses edge of property refuse collection call in request

A request that Bath & North East Somerset Council reconsider a decision to change the way refuse is collected from private properties was dismissed by four votes to three at a public meeting on Monday, 6 March.

The plans will now go ahead as previously agreed and refuse will be collected from the edge of properties instead of the back door.

The Council’s Planning, Transportation, Economy & Sustainability Overview and Scrutiny Panel held the meeting after ten councillors requested that a decision by Cllr Gerry Curran, Executive Member for Sustainability and the Environment, be called in.

The call in process means that an Executive decision, which has been made but not yet implemented, can be scrutinised to check that it was made following the correct evidence and procedures.

The original decision taken by Cllr Curran was designed to improve operational efficiency, benefit recycling rates, address health and safety concerns and ensure a consistency of approach across refuse and recycling services.

In this instance, the cross party Overview and Scrutiny Panel considered a list of reasons for the call in so that it could recommend whether it should be implemented.

To assist in their deliberations, the panel received a range written and verbal evidence and interviewed Cllr Curran and other senior officers. There were also representations both written and verbal from members of the public.

Having considered the evidence the panel voted to uphold Cllr Curran’s decision and rejected the call-in challenge saying that the amount of money to be saved is not insignificant and the re-investment into the Council’s recycling strategy and campaigns was a positive use.

However the panel did make the following recommendations to the Executive Member.

• That the Executive Member keeps the matter under review, and reports back to the scrutiny panel in six months about the implementation of the decision, in relation to improvements in the service and recycling, costs savings achieved and resident’s comments.
•  Executive Member and officers engage with the public and ward councillors in consultation processes to agree as far as possible the most appropriate location for waste to be placed for edge of property collections.
• That the phrase “edge of property” be clearly defined for residents as being within the curtilege of the property as far as is possible, rather than kerbside or on the highways or footpath.
•  That the option to apply for and receive assisted collection is widely publicised.
•  That all Council methods of communication are used to the fullest to explain this process, and its part within the larger waste strategy for the area.

Cllr David Dixon, the scrutiny panel chair, said: “Although the call in has been dismissed the process has been a worthwhile and productive one. It should help the council engage the public for smooth implementation of its decision on edge of property refuse collection.”