Live broadcast to start at 7pm and available for repeat viewing.   

Apologies were received from Cllr Wiles with Cllr McCheyne substituting and from Cllr Russell with Cllr Pound substituting. 

The minutes of the Clean & Green Committee held on the 11th December 2023 were APPROVED as a true record.

Cllr McCheyne referred to the previous minutes on Net Zero Carbon 2030 target report and would like an update back to this Committee regarding the purchase of green diesel that was proposed for the Council fleet vehicles. 

The report began on page 9 of the agenda and highlighted the work the teams have done.

As this is the last Clean & Green Committee meeting of the municipal year, Cllr Aspinell thanked all those who had participated in working groups and these programmes will roll on for the next municipal year subject to any election changes. 

Cllr Aspinell updated the committee on the installation of the covert cameras purchased as part of Project Minerva to be used to tackle fly tips.  The first camera has been installed with three more due to be installed shortly. 

The petition outlined an area expertise that the Council has limited knowledge of, and influence upon, but may wish to still consider the possibility of lobbying. The concerns are centred on potential impact to human health, rather than broader environmental concerns, and therefore it would be appropriate for the petition to be further considered by the Housing, Health and Community Committee.

A case against the Government was brought by Action Against 5G.The High Court handed down the judgment on the judicial review hearing not in favour of the applicant - Action Against 5G. Permission to appeal was applied for against the judgement received, this subsequently was refused. Currently, on December 12, 2023 an application to the European Court of Human Rights has been submitted.

Cllr Dr Barrett MOVED an amendment to the recommendation, SECONDED by Cllr Worsfold to be as followed: For the Committee to note the content of the report, and to refer the petition to Housing, Health & Community Committee for further scrutiny if the European Court of Human Rights accept appeal.

Following a full discussion a vote was taken and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that:

RECOMMENDATION

R1 – For the Committee to note the content of the report, and to refer the petition to Housing, Health & Community Committee for further scrutiny if the European Court of Human Rights accept appeal.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION

The information available suggests that concerns are centred on potential impact to human health, rather than broader environmental concerns, and therefore it would be appropriate for the petition to be considered by the Housing, Health and Community Committee.

The Clean & Green Committee in September 2023 agreed that Officers in consultation with the Horticultural society identify new sites and seek to undertake a review of the existing allotments site to determine capacity and unmet demand.

The society believe that should any additional resource be made available to invest into the allotments, priority should be given to investing in existing sites seeking to maximise their potential, recognising the burden the additional administrative resource would represent for the Society should the further new sites be created.

The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) fund identified potential funding for Allotment maintenance. It is anticipated that the CIL report will be presented to Members at Council by September 2024. There is, therefore, and opportunity for the members to consider the allotments requirements in the debate and decision-making process of that Council meeting.

This item was for information only so no voting was required. 

The report set out different options (paragraph 2.10) of waste collection service that are to be modelled to predict a range of outcomes: recycling rates; the gross and net cost of the collection service; the whole system collection and disposal costs; and carbon emissions.

These model outcomes were assessed against as set of criteria as set out in paragraph 2.12, further options can be modelled if required.

Cllr Barber asked for confirmation of Mr Hotten that the option 4 (fortnightly collection) within the options were for comparison only and not a potential option.  Mr Hotten confirmed that he provided all possible options for members to consider and agree on.     

Following a full discussion, Cllr Aspinell MOVED and Cllr Fulcher SECONDED the recommendation in the report. A vote was taken and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that:

RECOMMENDATIONS

Members are asked to:

R1. To Note the content of the report, specifically the options proposed for modelling as set out in paragraph 2.10

R2. To agree the proposed assessment criteria, as set out in paragraph 2.12

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

To ensure that the Council’s waste collection service can adapt to anticipated changes that may be required by the Government.

To ensure that procurement of Waste Collection Vehicles and the future of design and location of any operational depot considers longer term strategic needs

The Council offers residents a chargeable garden waste collection service. The service had approximately 6,500 customer who pay £60 per bin each year for the provision of a 240 litre brown wheeled bin which is emptied fortnightly, other than for the two weeks over the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Collections are currently made from all brown bins that are presented on the scheduled day as there are no visual indicators on the bins to show that accounts have been paid, and therefore that the containers should be emptied. This can result in collections being made from residents who no longer subscribe to the service but have retained the bin from a previous year’s subscription which has elapsed, or who have purchased or acquired their own containers.

The report sought approval for the introduction of stickers to be placed on the wheeled bins giving the collection teams a very clear indication which bins should be emptied.

Following a full discussion, Cllr Aspinell MOVED and Cllr Fulcher SECONDED the recommendation in the report. A vote was taken and it was RESOLVED that:

R1 To approve the introduction of a stickering system for the garden waste wheeled bin service.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION

To ensure that only wheeled bins that are presented by customers who have an active subscription to the service are collected. This will make the service more efficient and prompt residents who are not paying for the service to subscribe, thereby increasing income.

The report provided revised options for sites bought forward by Clean and Green Committee for the trial of “rewilding” areas of parks and verges.

Cllr Reed suggested that “community planting days” could be considered with he support of the Council when the planting is taking place. 

Mr Hotten would bring this back in the Autumn for members to propose suggestions of areas in other wards and work to be taken. 

Following a full discussion, Cllr Aspinell MOVED and Cllr Fulcher SECONDED the recommendation in the report. A vote was taken and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that:

R 1. To agree the revised trial sites detailed below for rewilding and to agree the change in management for these areas during the trial period.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION

Officers have reviewed the sites bought to the committee by its members and have assessed the suitability of each site.

The below information sets out what is achievable at minimal cost with negligible impact on resource for the Green Spaces operational teams.

The sites have been assessed in line with the proposal of natural rewilding methods where grasses and flora are left to regenerate natively. These proposed sites as bought forward by ward members do not account for cultivation of specific wild flora, which is out of scope of the trial.

It should be noted that these sites if accepted, can be easily reverted to formally mowed verges/greens using existing resource and machinery.

The Great British Spring Clean is the nation’s biggest mass-action environmental campaign. In 2024, the campaign returns from 15th March to 31st March.

The promotion of the Great British Spring Clean provides an opportunity for the Council to highlight the works that it undertakes and raise the awareness of littering campaigns.

It is proposed that as part of the campaign the Council takes an active role by: firstly, promoting its own volunteer litter pick days with the County Parks; and secondly, diverting existing resources to deliver a deep-litter picking and cleaning of the ‘gateways’ to the Borough.

Following a full discussion, Cllr Aspinell MOVED and Cllr Fulcher SECONDED the recommendation in the report. A vote was taken and it was RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY that:

R1 – To approve the cleansing schedule of ‘gateway’ sites as set out in paragraph 2.5

R2 – To approve the promotion of the Great British Spring Clean and provide support as set out in paragraph 2.4

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATION

The promotion of the Great British Spring Clean provides an opportunity for the Council to highlight the works that it undertakes and raise the awareness of littering campaigns.

There were no items of urgent business and the meeting concluded at 20:11.