Issue - meetings

a) To note and agree the terms of reference for scrutiny involvement for the roll-out of the new waste and recycling service.

b) Members of the panel to report back from site visits around Haringey undertaken on the 18^th September 2012.

c) To hear evidence from Single Frontline Service, Haringey Council: Attending:

Stephen McDonnell, Assistant Director

Michael McNicholas, Client & Performance Manager

d) To hear evidence from Veolia Environmental Services.  Attending:

Pascal Hauret, Municipal Services Director

Lynn Davis, Project Manager

Terms of reference

The panel reiterated that it wanted to undertake an objective assessment of the service which encompassed both successes and areas for service improvement.  The panel also wanted to reinforce that the purpose of this work was to (1) provide feedback that could assist the phase 3 roll out of the new service and (2) identify how the Council could encourage more people to recycle. 

AGREED:  The terms of reference report for scrutiny involvement with the waste and recycling service was noted and agreed by the panel. 

Report back from Panel visits

The panel visited a number of areas around the borough on the 18^th September 2012 to look at ‘case studies’ in relation to the waste and recycling service.  A report of the panel visit was tabled at the meeting (attached).  These case studies were also discussed by Single Front Line in the following agenda sub-item.

          Evidence from Single Front Line Service and Housing Management

Officers from Single Front Line Service provided a presentation on a number of case studies to illustrate issues which it has faced in the implementation of the new waste and recycling service across Haringey.  In addition, an officer from the Housing Improvement Team discussed the regulation of houses of multiple occupation (HMO) with the panel.  The following provides a summary of the discussions of the panel, which has been categorised in to themes for ease of reference.

          Community engagement / consultation

The panel visited Milton Avenue (N6) to view the problem of wheelie bins in a conservation area.  The properties in this area had little front garden space to store wheelie bins and so these were kept on the street.  The panel noted that some residents felt that the presence of bins on the street detracted from its character.  Whilst there had been some rationalisation of bins (new 360l bins being shared among residents), there was a perception that there was still an unacceptable number of bins on the street.

It was noted that residents of the street had been visited twice as part of a consultation for preferred receptacles for waste and recycling collection that involved two rounds of door knocking for each property.  Of the 140 households surveyed, there were 42 responses of which 76% indicated that they wanted to retain the wheelie bins.  It was noted however, that there was still some ongoing dissatisfaction with the new service by some local residents who would have preferred twice weekly collections for residual waste, a system which was operational in adjacent Camden. 

AGREED:   The panel requested clarification on waste collection arrangements in Camden and that this is reported back. (EHSP)

The panel noted that community engagement was important prior to the establishment of the new waste and recycling service to ascertain the preferred options of local residents.  It was noted that street assessments were undertaken in all areas in Phase 1 and Phase 2 to identify specific street issues (i.e. small gardens) and assess what waste receptacles would be most  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8