Environment Committee - 21/04/2014

At a MEETING of the ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE held at Dundee on 21st April, 2014.

Present:-

BAILIES

COUNCILLORS

Councillor Craig MELVILLE, Convener, in the Chair.

The minute of meeting of this Committee of 10th March, 2014 was held as read.

Unless marked thus * all items stand delegated.

I DECLARATION OF INTEREST

No declarations of interest were made.

II IMPROVEMENT AND EXPANSION OF DOMESTIC RECYCLING SERVICES

There was submitted Report No 199-2014 by the Director of Environment seeking approval for the improvement and expansion of domestic recycling service within the city to ensure compliance with the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012 and the recycling targets set out in the Scottish Governments Zero Waste Plan.

The Convener, seconded by Depute Lord Provost Roberts, moved that the Committee:-

(i) note the content of the report;

(ii) approve the adoption of the improvements and expansion of the Councils domestic recycling services as detailed in Option 1, which included the:-

- introduction of weekly food waste collections across the city;

- changes to and significant extension of the dry mixed recycling (DMR) collection service across the city;

- increased frequency of the DMR collections and corresponding changes to the residual waste collection;

(iii) note the significant improvement in the Councils household waste recycling performance projected from the current levels to 52.7% by 2017;

(iv) authorise the capital expenditure of 400,000 on the purchase of the required containers and associated materials in 2014/15; and

(v) remit the Director of Environment to implement the strategy as set out in the Action Plan at Section 12 of the report.

As an amendment, Councillor McCready, seconded by Councillor Keenan, moved that consideration of Report No 199-2014 be deferred until a full consultation had been carried out with residents. The consultation should utilise the Local Community Planning Partnership Network to enable a consultation process to be undertaken with communities, residents and elected members on the implications of new regulations for the collection of recyclates and residual waste in the city. This consultation would be extended to include all interested community groups, residents and tenant associations.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Guild, Alexander, Black, Bowes, Campbell, Cordell, Dawson, Hunter, Lynn, McDonald, Melville, Murray, Bailie Sawers, Lord Provost Duncan and Depute Lord Provost Roberts (15); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Brennan, Cruickshank, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, McGovern, Macpherson, Bailies Wright and Scott (12) - whereupon the motion was declared carried.

As a further amendment, Councillor Macpherson, seconded by Bailie Scott, moved:-

Remove recommendations at 2.2 to 2.5 inclusive of Report No 199-2014 and new recommendation detailed below added:-

2.2 Instructs the Director of Environment to bring forward a further report that includes an option that proposes improvements and expansion of the Council's domestic recycling services and also preserves weekly residual waste collections to all households currently receiving these. Such a report to include the detailed costs of each option to be considered for each of the six phased areas proposed in Appendix 4.1.

On a division, there voted for the motion - Councillors Guild, Alexander, Black, Bowes, Campbell, Cordell, Dawson, Hunter, Lynn, McDonald, Melville, Murray, Bailie Sawers, Lord Provost Duncan and Depute Lord Provost Roberts (15); and for the amendment - Councillors Keenan, Asif, Bidwell, Brennan, Cruickshank, Ferguson, Gordon, McCready, Macpherson, McGovern and Bailies Wright and Scott (12) - whereupon the motion was declared carried and became the finding of the meeting.

III PURCHASE OF BOWLING GREEN MOWERS

There was submitted Agenda Note AN145-2014 advising the Committee that following the recent Winter Overhaul Programme completed by the Fleet Section, two pieces of equipment had been identified as beyond economical repair.

The two items that required to be purchased were Dennis Bowling Green Mowers and would be purchased from Henderson Grass Machinery, Kinross through the Tayside Procurement Consortium Ground Care Framework. The mowers were required to ensure ongoing operational effectiveness.

The Director of Corporate Services advised that the overall cost of purchasing the plant, 8,800 could be met from allowances within the Capital Budget - Vehicle Fleet - Purchase of Vehicles and Equipment for 2014/2015.

The Committee approved accordingly.

Craig MELVILLE, Convener.