Issue - meetings

This report details the steps taken to address the challenges faced by the council’s front line waste service over recent months and presents options to increase resilience and improve reliability.

Resolved:  (i)      That the update provided in the report be noted.

(ii)      That Option B, to develop a driver apprentice scheme, be approved.

(iii)     That officers be requested to develop proposals for a more generic, multi-functional, workforce.

(iv)    That officers be requested to develop a plan for a future fleet which will help to deliver a more reliable service that also takes into account air quality issues, considers electric vehicles, especially within the Clean Air Zone, and considers access issues, to increase the number of streets from which collections can be made, while maintaining segregation of recycling.

Reason:     To improve the reliability of the service to residents, in accordance with the key themes of the Council Plan, and to improve air quality and recycling rates.

The Executive Member considered a report which detailed steps taken to address the challenges faced by the council’s front line waste services over recent months and presented options to increase resilience and improve the reliability of the service.

In common with services across the country, waste services in York had been affected by adverse weather at the start of the year and a shortage of LGV (HGV) drivers.  Steps already taken and planned to mitigate the effects of this and improve resilience, including plans to replace the current vehicle fleet from 2020, were set out in paragraphs 12 and 13 of the report.  Since publication of the report, the Executive had approved an additional £125k to fund the retention of the seasonal green waste staff over the winter season.

The following options for further improvement were considered:

Option A – invest in additional crews.  This was not recommended, as it would create over-resourcing and not be cost effective.

Option B – develop a drive apprentice programme, to be launched in 2019, with a training fee ‘claw back’ arrangement to ensure staff retention.  This was the recommended option

Option C – review services to create a more generic multi-skilled workforce.  This could be explored but would need further consideration.

The Executive Member recognised the current issues with the service and apologised for the inconvenience these were causing to residents.  He thanked those officers working above and beyond their roles to restore the service that residents had come to expect and welcomed the trialling of electric vehicles for the new fleet.  In response to comments made under Public Participation, officers explained that switching from a separated to a mixed recycling scheme would add £1m to the overall cost of the service.

Resolved:  (i)      That the update provided in the report be noted.

(ii)      That Option B, to develop a driver apprentice scheme, be approved.

(iii)     That officers be requested to develop proposals for a more generic, multi-functional, workforce.

(iv)    That officers be requested to develop a plan for a future fleet which will help to deliver a more reliable service that also takes into account air quality issues, considers electric vehicles, especially within the Clean Air Zone, and considers access issues, to increase the number of streets from which collections can be made, while maintaining segregation of recycling.

Reason:     To improve the reliability of the service to residents, in accordance with the key themes of the Council Plan, and to improve air quality and recycling rates.