Agenda item

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships that presented progress towards achieving the key outcomes of the Council’s corporate performance framework (for copy of report, see file of minutes).

The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategic Manager was in attendance to present the report and outlined to the committee highlights of the final quarter 2018/2019 performance management report relating to environmental cleanliness, carbon emissions and recycling contamination issues and campaigns that are being done to address this

Following the presentation, the Chair indicated that there was a good proportion of positives, but they needed to keep checking as things can change in a small space of time.

Mr Bolton asked if more information could be provided on the council’s authority to control bonfires.

The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategic Manager responded that he would make some enquiries and advise Mr Bolton accordingly.

Councillor Jopling indicated that she was pleased to hear the increase in the number of household waste e-permits issued but she still believed that some people were not aware of the e-permit system for vans.

The Chair responded that he was aware that the Council promoted the service in many ways but would ask for further information.

The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager advised the DCC did promote waste permits but not all publicity gets to all residents.

Councillor Avery referred to household recycling and contamination. In his area some education was required and asked if letters would be distributed to educate people or was it left up to the crew to catch the contamination. The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager advised that a sticker would be placed on every recycling bin advising No Black Bags and what could and could not be put into the bin. If residents do not take notice of this then the bin crews will carry out education with those residents concerned and enforcement would be the final response.

Councillor Howell referred to the data provided and that some of the data was out of date. He then referred to carbon emission which was a percentage that made it difficult to understand the significance and asked if this could be quoted in the number of tons instead of percentage. He then referred to the change in CO₂ emissions from local authority operations which was 2 years out of date and in view of the council declaring a climate change emergency the data needed to be up to date.

The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategic Manager responded that the service was looking at the whole of the carbon emission measures and how the headline figure was broken down and that he would ask the team to take Councillor Howell’s comments on board.

Councillor Howell reflected that if the council had declared a climate emergency then we need to get quicker at producing the figures so we can see the impacts of our actions.

The Chair advised that carbon measures would be looked at in greater detail.

Councillor Manchester sought clarification on graffiti incidents, in particular if the Council worked with private industries to help remove graffiti.

The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategic Manager responded that the Council had worked with private industries in the past to help remove graffiti.

Councillor Avery commented that in his areas the Council were straight out to remove the graffiti.

Councillor Crute referred to the CO₂ emissions and asked if this could be broken down into partners, service and type so that they knew what to focus on for the work programme. He also asked that the figures be broken down so that they could establish the impact of vehicles idling on vulnerable people and added that this had been highlighted in other Overview and Scrutiny Committees too.

The Chair responded that the Air Quality report would be considered by the Committee at the meeting to be held on the 8 January 2020 and would include information on idling vehicles.

The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager advised that at the moment there were two carbon emissions indicators – DCC operations and across the county, there is a breakdown, so we know where the issues are from the countywide figure and need to work with partners. In relation to car idling the Corporate Scrutiny and Strategy Manager informed members that the government were looking into tightening the regulations.

Councillor Coult referred to household recycling and how it was confusing what could go into which bin as different local authorities had different recycling rules and how there were no community recycling bins in villages and were there any plans to have these in place.

The Corporate Scrutiny and Strategic Manager indicated that the authority was currently tied into the waste recycling contracts that determine what types of plastic can and cannot be recycled and as these contracts came to an end the range of recycling products could be extended. He was aware that Darlington BC had twin litter bins at one time but on emptying the bin the waste and recycling were all mixed together. He was not aware if DCC had plans for public recycling bins to be located in villages, but he would make enquiries.

The Chair indicated that it was a failure of the public in not recycling properly that we do not have recycling bins in communities. Different authorities had different methods and materials for recycling and recent TV programmes had given out mixed messages about recycling that caused confusion relating to what the local authority does recycle. This committee was aware of a range of campaigns the service had carried out over the years to improve recycling including Know your Metals, Recycling Matters and Bin it Right and there was continuous education including engagement with schools that impacted on families learning to recycle via the children. A great amount of work had been done but it was a continuous process.

Mr Bolton referred to the visit to Stainton Grove household waste centre and if this centre was the template for all household waste centres then residents were well served.

Councillor Dunn referred to Germany and stated that thirty years ago there were recycling bins in German towns and cities and suggested it was about education. He indicated that the climate emergency was here, and they needed to turn people’s opinions around about what can be recycled. National talks needed to take place with supermarkets as some foods did not need to be wrapped in plastic and all containers should be standardised so all authorities could recycle and process it.

Councillor Howell referred to the inconsistencies between councils recycling and commented that the government were considering consultation results in relation to co-ordination and alignment of recycling materials so all local authorities recycled the same.

He also made the point that contracts can be reviewed and we do not always have to wait until the end of a contract before considering amending them.

Resolved: That the report be noted.