The minutes of the Ordinary Council meeting held on 28th July 2021 were APPROVED as true record, subject to the inclusion of the written questions and responses submitted by Cllr S Cloke and Cllr Dr Barrett to state the following:

One written question has been received from Cllr Dr Barrett, as follows:

“Has the council had any engagement with highways England about the proposed community woodland at Hole Farm Warley - what are the plans for Brentwood Borough Council involvement and input”?

Cllr Hossack responded as Leader of the Council.

The council is already undertaking work to reduce its carbon footprint and influence that of others in the borough, including businesses and residents.  As such, the Council is presently recruiting a Climate & Sustainability Officer who will work towards producing a ‘Green’ strategy.  This strategy will include recommendations to reduce our carbon footprint, offset our carbon production and increase sustainability within the borough.  Therefore, rather than make declarations at this stage, the Council is focused on delivering projects in the short term and seeking to develop a longer term strategy.  This strategy will set out clear targets and the methods this authority will follow in order to deliver against local, national and worldwide climate objectives.

In addition, Brentwood as a member of Scope are already working with all other Essex councils, including County and share initiatives and expertise to reduce its carbon footprint and thus contribute to reducing global warming to less than 1.5°C %.

 Following changes to our procurement rules, we already ensure products and services consider the environmental impact of their provision as part of the overall scoring when considering tenders.  The Council will continue to develop other strategies, policies and action plans that encourage carbon reduction and carbon offset schemes.  As well as sitting on already mentioned we already sit on SCOPE, we are part of the Essex Councils Environmental Group and work with the Forestry Commission and Thames Chase to reduce our impact on the environment and reduce the amount of carbon in the borough through woodland planting.

The Council will continue to work towards zero carbon output as part of the forthcoming strategy later this year.

Two written question has been received from Cllr S Cloke as follows:

Question 1

“Residents of Brentwood that use communal waste facilities. e.g. those living in blocks of flats, do not all have access to locally positioned glass recycling bins. The expectation of Brentwood Council is that these residents, who are more likely not to have access to cars to transport bulk waste, must take their glass to a Recycling Centre or a supermarket or simply send it to landfill in black sacks. This results in wasted opportunities for recycling of glass as well as contamination of other recycling bins when residents dispose of their glass in bags or bins that are not designed for this type of recycling. When will the council provide glass recycling facilities equally to all residents by supplying communal glass recycling bins to all of those who live in accommodation with communal waste collection?

Cllr Hossack responded as Leader of the Council.

The Council provides glass recycling bins to residential communal areas that request the service. This is however, directed by available space and the ability of manging agents and residents to comply with non-contamination of the glass recycling container. 

Question 2

“Since the rollout of the new recycling scheme in Brentwood around a year ago the council has transformed its residential recycling scheme from a cost to an income. This has been achieved by limiting the collected items, re-educating residents on what can be collected and, most importantly, by providing a real time feedback loop to residents who put contaminated recycling out for collection as their bags are not collected. Unfortunately, there is still a large minority of Brentwood residents who do not have equal access to the recycling scheme, which is any resident using communal bins. These residents continue to fill orange sacks, which I understand are generally sent to landfill due to contamination. Many residents are unaware their orange sacks are being sent to landfill and many do not understand fully what should and should not be included in the recycling as they do not have the same real time feedback loop that individual recycling bag users have. The council has offered to trial communal recycling bins in these areas on request but this option is not being properly publicised and such trials will fail without the associated education of residents. When will the council proactively provide communal recycling bins along with proper education and feedback on the appropriate contents for these to all relevant residents across the borough?”

Cllr Hossack responded as Leader of the Council.

When the roll out of the communal recycling bins takes place, each resident receives an informative letter detailing how to participate and listing the acceptable items.

Regards the comment about limiting collected items, there are only two elements of the waste stream adversely affected and that is ‘food and drink cartons’ and shredded paper.  Plastic carrier bags, for example, were listed as unacceptable for inclusion in the orange sack.