The review seeks to understand current arrangements and likely future demands of the service alongside the council’s own aspirations for environmental protection, resource efficiency and carbon reduction.

The purpose of the report is to:

1.     Review the work of the task and finish group that was set up in 2019 to review the Waste Management Service that included looking at current arrangements and likely future demands of the service alongside the council’s own aspirations for environmental protection, resource efficiency and carbon reduction.

2.     commence a public consultation on options 2 & 3 (which are summarised on pages 35 - 41 in Appendix 1) to seek the views of the residents and businesses in Herefordshire.

3.     consent for funds to be moved from the council’s reserves to award a tender to enable the Waste Management service to carry out an effective and engaging public consultation.

That:

(a)           accept the recommendations around consulting on options 2 & 3 from General Scrutiny Committee held on 28 September 2020

(b)           consent be given for expenditure up to the value of £75,000 is allocated from the council’s waste revenue reserves  to the Economy & Place Directorate’s revenue budget for 2020/21 to award a tender and include expenditure required for resources to allow the council to carry out an effective and engaging consultation on the future of its Waste Management Service;

(c)        a further report is  brought back to the cabinet member for procurement and assets outlining the resources required to deliver the waste services management review;

(d)        a further report is brought back to cabinet in Spring 2021 with a recommendation on future collection services and outlining future resources required to implement the recommendation; and

(e)        Subject to the provisions of the Financial Procedure Rules, the Assistant Director for Regulatory, Environment and Waste be authorised to take all operational decisions required to implement the above recommendations.

1.          Do nothing - This is not an option as the current waste collection arrangements are due to expire in November 2023 and there is no further extension option. The future waste collection arrangements will have a significant implication on future waste disposal arrangements. 

2.          Not to undertake a public consultation – This option has been discounted as public acceptance is essential to the successful delivery of future services. The public consultation will also support the development and roll out of the future service as it will help to consider the different practical implications and approaches to each service option for different housing types, such as flats and communal developments.