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City of York Council |
Committee Minutes |
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Meeting |
Decision Session - Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change |
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Date |
5 October 2022 |
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Present |
Councillor Widdowson |
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In Attendance |
Ben Grabham – Head of Environmental Services |
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1. Declarations of Interest (15:01)
The Executive Member was asked to declare, at this point in the meeting, any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests she might have in respect of the business on the agenda. None were declared.
2. Minutes (15:01)
Resolved: That the minutes of the Decision Session held on 7 September 2022 be approved and signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.
3. Public Participation (15:01)
It was reported that there had been one registration to speak on agenda item 4 Waste Service at the session under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.
Andrew Mortimer supported the recommendations for the additional recycling of items such as foil and soft plastics. He also spoke about the need for a clear communication strategy for residents to make the process less confusing for residents alongside urging the Council to communicate these changes with the Universities and their students.
4. Waste Services (15:04)
The Executive Member considered the report on Waste Services in York, which included changes to and updates on the service. The Head of Environmental Services outlined the report and explained that there is now an ability to extend the range of recyclables to include foil and some soft plastics. The Officer explained that the Council are in the process of updating communications around these changes through their website, magazine, and social media. He also agreed to pass on these updates to the universities and other bodies, and the Executive Member confirmed she is also in talks with university operation groups to improve recycling efforts.
An update on the extended garden waste scheme was noted and the Officer stated that starting the scheme in March has meant a more evenly distributed presentation of garden waste at the start of the season compared to previous years. He also confirmed that the scheme will run until 9 December 2022. Furthermore, the Council has replaced its waste fleet with more recycling vehicles and continues to trial two electric vehicles. The Officer explained that the Council are also evaluating their routing and rounding to improve efficiency alongside introducing the bags to bins project. The Council is also awaiting proposals around food waste and commercial waste collections to be published following the Council’s response to consultations on the Government’s Waste and Resource Strategy.
The Executive Member accepted the recommendations of the report. The Officer then proposed for the scheme to go live on Monday 17 October 2022 to ensure the Council has time to communicate changes, which the Executive Member welcomed.
Resolved:
i. That the changes to the list of materials that are collected to include foil and other plastics be approved.
Reason: To ensure that materials that are currently recycled continue to be and increase recycling within the city
ii. That the contents of the report and the progress made to date with waste services to be noted.
Reason: To keep the Executive Member updated on the Council’s waste service.
Cllr Widdowson, Executive Member
[The meeting started at 3.00 pm and finished at 3.12 pm].