Issue - meetings

To consider any requests received in accordance with Part 4, Section B, paragraph 29 of the Council’s constitution.

N.B. Petition received around the suspension of changes to waste services and a request to urgently review, consult on and publish the potential impacts upon the local environment and residents.

The Chair advised that a petition had been received around changes to waste collection services. The petition was signed by 1423 residents and had therefore not met the threshold for a debate at Full Council. Instead, the petitioner had agreed to come and address the Committee given the synergism with agenda item 8 on OSC budget recommendations for the current municipal year. The Chair asked the Cabinet Member to respond to the petitioner as part of their response to item 8.

The Chair invited Mr Peter Simon to address the Committee in reference to his petition around changes to waste collection services including; charging for bulky items, charging for replacement bins and charging for garden waste (from 23^rd October). Mr Simon called on the council to suspend the changes to waste services and to urgently review, consult upon and publish the potential impact upon the local environment and residents. Mr Simon raised concerns that the evidence base for the changes was weak and that the outcome of their implementation had not been properly thought through.

In response to the petition, the Committee sought the petitioners views on whether maintaining the current hessian sacks would mitigate the need for another bin. Mr Simon responded the salient factor would be whether there was a charge for those sacks. Mr Simon expressed surprise that the Council had not, for instance, considered the introduction of fortnightly collections before introducing additional charges for waste collection services. Following clarification, the petitioner advised that his preference would be for a reduction to the existing service in an attempt to deliver savings, rather than income generation from additional charges. In response to a comment from the Committee around charges for garden waste collection being common in London, Mr Simon advised that Haringey’s changes were above that of many other boroughs; advising that that the average charge was £50-£60, whereas Haringey were going to charge £75.

The Chair advised that he was going to take agenda items 14 and 13 immediately following the conclusion of item 8. *Clerks note- The minutes follow the order of items at they were taken, not as they were listed on the agenda.*