Agenda item

Joint report of Cabinet Members for Environment Infrastructure and Climate Change and Commercial Matters

The Committee considered a joint report of the Cabinet Members for Environment and Infrastructure and Climate Change and Commercial Matters updating them on the progress made with regard to insourcing elements of the Authority’s future Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRC) operations and informing them of potential changes to the management of Re-use items in Staffordshire (schedule 1 to the signed minutes).

The decision to insource the operation of HWRCs with effect from 30 March 2022 was made by Cabinet at their meeting on 17 March 2021. Since that time arrangements had been made to notify operational staff currently employed by the existing contractor and those employed directly by the Authority.

In addition, an internal project group comprising representatives of all relevant teams had been established. Meetings of the Group were held fortnightly and an extensive Project Plan and Risk Register had been agreed. The Group were also focusing on ensuring the transition between the existing operations and revised configuration were satisfactory.

In accordance with the decision by Cabinet, the haulage element of future HWRC operations was to remain externalised. Therefore, staff currently employed by Amey had also been notified.

The management of Re-use items across the entire Staffordshire HWRC network was currently undertaken on behalf of the Council by Katherine House Hospice Registered Charity. These arrangements were established in 2013 by the County Council’s previous HWRC provider – HCC Environment. Under the contract, the circa 150,000 items donated annually provided a significant funding stream for the charity. However, a review had identified an opportunity to increase the value of donated items by improving local collection arrangements and diverting them away from other end use streams.

However, discussions were underway with Katherine House to continue with the current arrangements until April 2023 by which time it was hoped to implement a new improved service for the benefit of Staffordshire residents and taxpayers.

During the full and wide-ranging discussion which ensued, Members gave detailed scrutiny to the various changes outlined, asking questions and seeking clarification where necessary. They were pleased to note the significant progress made in implementing the new HWRC arrangements. They also gave consideration to potential future options for the collection and sale of re-use items including:- (i) identification of a lead operating charity via a formal procurement process; (ii) use of one or more HWRC’s as collection hubs; (iii) distribution of income generated; (iv) local arrangements required at all existing 14 HWRC sites and; (v) in-house operation of future arrangements.

The Committee agreed that maximising the recycling and re-use of all material collected at HWRCs was essential. A Member spoke in support of consistency in service provision across the County not least to reduce ‘carbon miles’, where possible. They also paid tribute to existing staff for their efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic and queried whether the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPEE) would apply so that relevant skills and expertise could be retained.

In response to a further point, the Cabinet Member undertook to investigate the possibility income from the sale of re-use material being allocated to County Councillors for distribution to good causes within their own County Electoral Divisions.

The Chairman then thanked the Cabinet Member for his attendance at the meeting.

RESOLVED – (a) That the report be received and noted.

(b) That a further update report be brought to the Committee at their meeting in April 2022.

(c) That a further report be brought to the Committee setting out performance of the new service against relevant Key Performance Indicators, in due course.