Cabinet - Tuesday, 14th July, 2015 4.30 pm - Agenda and minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 30th June, 2017 (copy attached).

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 30th June, 2015 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the Corporate Director’s Report No. CD1508 (copy attached), which addresses the options around the specification for refuse and recycling services to enable the improvement of the Council’s recycling rate and to reduce costs. This Report is in the context of the major re-procurement of a basket of direct services, which was considered by the Cabinet on 30th June, 2015.

The Cabinet considered the Corporate Director’s Report No. CD1508, which set out options for the future specification of the waste and recycling services provided by the Council.

The Cabinet was reminded that, at its meeting on 30th June 2015, it had agreed many matters relating to the specification of the renewal of the contract covering refuse, recycling, street cleansing, grounds maintenance and toilet cleansing. At that meeting, it had been agreed, however, that due to the significance of a decision to either retain weekly collections of residual waste or switch to alternate weekly collections and also to consider reducing the size of residual waste bins, an extra meeting of the Cabinet should be set up in order for these matters to be considered fully.

The Council’s current financial position was set out and it was reported that the most recent budget on 8th July had changed little. The Council’s financial position remained challenging, with the introduction of the Minimum Living Wage likely to have the effect of making services provided by contractors, in particular, more expensive.

Members were informed that the current contract had performed well and that residents had, generally, expressed a high level of satisfaction with waste and recycling collection services. The Council’s recycling performance, however, stood at around 26%, which fell well short of the UK target to recycle or compost 50% of total waste by 2020. Whilst it was considered that the introduction of alternate weekly collections for residual waste would have the greatest effect in increasing recycling rates, there were other initiatives that would be likely to improve the rate also, including:

·                     Free garden waste collections

·                     Incentive schemes

·                     Increasing the range of recyclable materials collected

·                     Improved education

·                     Introduction of smaller residual waste bins

In considering this matter, the Cabinet discussed many issues, including the likely increased cost of contractors’ services due to the introduction of the Minimum Living Wage, the need for the Council to make savings, how knowledge and awareness of recycling might be improved and residents’ views on the current level of service. Members felt that residents approved of the current frequency of collections and, for this reason, agreed that a weekly collection of residual waste should be maintained. The current level of recycling was, however, of concern and it was agreed, therefore, that the policy of reducing the size of residual waste bins over time should be continued and it was recommended that the Future Contracts Member Working Group should investigate additional ways of improving recycling levels.

The Cabinet RESOLVED to continue with the weekly collection of residual waste and maintain the current policy of issuing 140 litre residual waste bins as replacements or for new dwellings.

To consider the Chief Executive’s Report No. CEX1502 (copy attached), which seeks approval from the Council to develop a proposal, with other Hampshire and Isle of Wight authorities, to bring about devolution of powers and responsibilities from central Government to the wider Hampshire area.

The Cabinet considered the Chief Executive’s Report No. CEX1502, which set out the current position within Hampshire regarding the potential devolution of power from central to local government.

Members heard how, prior to the previous parliamentary election, there had been significant national debate around the devolution of power, funding and responsibilities. The creation of a combined authority for Greater Manchester had become a flagship for how this could be achieved. It was reported that authorities within the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Government Association’s (HIOWLA) area had already engaged in a significant amount of joint working and projects. Members heard how all member authorities of HIOWLA, which included Hampshire County Council, Southampton and Portsmouth unitary authorities, the Isle of Wight Council and eleven district councils, had been in agreement that to develop a proposal for a devolved administration would be in the best interests of Hampshire residents. This would involve the creation of a ‘Combined Authority’ for Hampshire.

It was clarified that such an arrangement would not constitute a restructure of local government and that sovereignty would remain with individual authorities. It would, however, provide an opportunity for closer joint working, economies and service improvements. The first stage was to make a submission to start the process which would make a number of ‘asks’ of Government. Whilst not confirmed these might include:

·                     Local control over funding for skills, post-sixteen education, apprenticeships and lifelong learning

·                     More local control over national infrastructure spending on transport and housing

·                     A HIOWLA wide ‘Better Care Fund’ to better integrate health and social care across local government and the NHS

·                     Freedom to borrow against the forecast proceeds of local growth (to support enabling infrastructure)

·                     A comprehensive public sector land bank, making surplus NHS and Ministry of Defence land available for housing

·                     Ability to use public procurement and national business support budgets to support local business growth

·                     Greater retention of growth in business rates

The Cabinet discussed the proposal and was supportive of the principle of devolution, particularly in relation to the opportunities for expanding shared services and driving down costs. It was agreed that any future ‘devolution deal’ would be closely examined to ensure it would be beneficial to Rushmoor residents as well as the broader HIOW area.

                        The Cabinet RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL that

(i)           the local discussions, on the devolution of powers and responsibilities, be noted;

(ii)          the actions taken by the Leader, through the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Government Association, in supporting the principle of a Combined Hampshire Authority as a basis for developing a devolution deal for the area be endorsed;

(iii)         the principle of the Leader and Chief Executive working alongside colleagues in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to develop a model for devolution which meets local needs be approved; and

(iv)         the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, be authorised to approve the initial proposal for submission to the Government.