Agenda item
Questions Under Standing Order 23
To receive questions from Councillors in accordance with the requirements of Standing Order 23.4(a).
Minutes:
The Council received questions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 23 and responses provided by the appropriate Cabinet Leads as follows:
(1)
Questions from Councillor Kennett to
Councillor Hughes:
a.
What key performance indicators are in place for our
recycling?
There are no specific KPIs for recycling, however there is a
national target for recycling of 50%.
b.
Which local authorities do we currently benchmark
our performance against?
Disposal authorities across the country are able to take a variety of recyclate materials, therefore any performance
comparison is contained within the disposal authority area, in our
case Hampshire. It is not possible to
undertake benchmarking on a broader basis.
(A graphic showing the different refuse and
recycling regimes in place across Hampshire is published on the
Council’s website alongside these minutes)
c.
What are Havant’s ambitions for recycling in
the borough?
We are aiming to increase our recycling figures above
30%, reduce contamination and increase messaging about waste
avoidance.
There is a recycling action plan in place for 2018, which will be delivered within existing budgets.
Key priorities are:
· Increasing the number of localised recycling bring sites in an effort to make it easier for residents to recycle glass and textiles;
· We will be promoting the Garden Waste collection service to generate additional customers as garden waste forms c7% of our total recycling; and
· We will revise the recycling message to our residents to reduce contamination within the recycling bin.
The
government has adopted the recommended increases in recycling rates
as set out in the EU Circular Economy paper, setting new national
targets for recycling at:
· 55% 2025
· 60% 2030
· 65% 2035
As a member of the Project Integra Board, I will therefore be
championing further action on recycling from our
partners
d.
When will the new HCC recycling facility be ready
for use?
Given the government’s announcements on deposit
return schemes (DRS) and recycling rates, HCC has paused
commissioning the design of the new recycling facility (SMRF) as
these announcements have the potential to significantly impact on
the range and quality of materials that will be available to the kerbside recycling services in the
future.
The DRS for plastic bottles was anticipated, but not the inclusion
of glass and metal drink containers. A
reduction in the availability of these materials does impact on the
business case for the SMRF especially as the SMRF was intended to
include glass as an accepted material.
e.
What will the council be doing to support this
years National Recycle Week (24 –
30 Sept)? There are plenty of local organisations such as The Final
Straw Solent (based in Emsworth) who
would be pleased to help
We are currently working with Norse SE on the National
Recycle Week and I will provide further information when details
are finalised.
Norse are currently supporting the “final Straw”
scheme, linking with the Ben Ainslie Racing team and donating
litter pickers, gloves and sacks.
(2)
Councillor Francis to Councillor
Pike
I am pleased to acknowledge the work being done on the project to
build houses and a new Community centre in Leigh Park. It is being
done with the finance of a grant to fund development and
feasibility in the area, which was successfully bid for by Andrew
Biltcliffe (Head of
Regeneration).
I am also pleased to hear that investigations into financial
support are being made. We badly need Social housing. Government
funding might be found but are we investigating the sort of Trust
arrangements made by other Councils so that we could borrow to
build and not be subject to the right to buy? I also understand that the Co-operative society
will support such development. This should not just be a question
of builders' profits.
A project Panel has commissioned HCC architects and plans are being
drawn up. Could you explain how it can be that the Project Panel
has not included any Leigh Park Councillors (the people who
understand the area) being included.
Apparently the people of Leigh Park are
not to be consulted before the plans are drawn up. Do you agree
that there is a democratic deficit here?
The question is whether to start the conversation about
regeneration projects from a completely blank sheet or with a
framework of what could happen. The Project Board decision was to
commission Hampshire CC Architects to provide some high level
visual ideas of what might be elements of the possible in order to have conversations with local
stakeholders and the local community. The Project Board is made up
of landowners, plus Community First as Head leasee of the community centre. The terms of
reference include provision for a Partnership Board, which could
include local councillors and will be involved as the project
progresses.
The HCC ideas are a good start and set out the scale of housing
that formed the original funding bid, which is also carried through
into the draft Local Plan. It should be
noted that the principle of construction of 150 homes and a
rationalised community centre was consulted on through the Local
Plan.
The high-level feasibility work accompanying the HCC visual ideas
also demonstrates the challenge in achieving a viable development
in this location. The HCC work is a tentative first step in the
process of getting the project off the ground. These realities are
an essential starting point for the project. Engagement with
stakeholders and the local community are central to the whole
project moving forward, as is confirmed in the successful funding
bid.
(3)
Councillor Francis to Councillor
Hughes
a.
Did Capita consult with, or even inform, H.B.C.,
before deciding to make redundant 27 finance officers (who
were located in the Plaza) on May
31st?
The Capita model of delivery was proposed as part of
the contract that was signed in April 2016. Staff that TUPE
transferred to Capita were given as much information as possible
several months before the contracts started on the changes
proposed under the new model. The
Finance restructure was undertaken in line with the contract and
TUPE regulations.
b.
The work is now to be done at Chichester and another
location. Is this as convenient to us and is the work being
properly done?
Services within the contract are now delivered in
several locations, however there remains an on-site presence for
many of the services, including Finance and HR.
We are continuing to work with Capita during this transition period
to ensure smooth running services in the new delivery
model.
c.
4 new posts were created here, but, because the job
descriptions are different, those who gained them no longer have
TUPE protection.
This action, if officially approved, would seem contrary to the
Council Policy of encouraging employment in the Borough.
The staff who transferred under the contract are now
Capita employees.
As with any contractor, Capita is able
to make changes to its team structures and job roles to meet
its business need without recourse to council
approval.
Supporting documents: