To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Bowes and Durkin.

To receive details of any member nominated to attend the meeting in place of a member of the committee.

No named substitutes were present.

To receive any declarations of interests in respect of schedule 1, schedule 2 or other interests from members of the committee in respect of items on the agenda.

No declarations of interest were made.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 11 June 2021.

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 June 2021 were received.

Resolved:      That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 June 2021 be approved as a correct record and be signed by the chairperson.

To receive any written questions from members of the public.

No questions had been received from members of the public.

To receive any written questions from councillors.

No questions had been received from councillors.

To receive an update on the executive responses to the further recommendations made by general scrutiny committee on 26 April 2021 regarding the committee’s Waste Management Strategic Review and the review of the Climate and Ecological Emergency.

The chairperson explained that, on 26 April 2021, the general scrutiny committee received an update on the executive responses to recommendations made in relation to the committee’s waste management strategic review and the review of the climate and ecological emergency (minute 62 of 2020/21 refers).  At that meeting, the committee made seven further recommendations on waste management and eleven further recommendations on the Climate and Ecological Emergency.  It was noted that decision notices for the executive responses to the further recommendations were published on 16 July 2021; the related documents were circulated in a supplement to the agenda for this meeting.

Waste management strategic review

The head of environment, climate emergency and waste services provided an overview of the executive responses.  Questions and comments were invited from committee members, and responses were provided by the attending officers and the cabinet member - commissioning, procurement and assets.  The principal topics of discussion included:

a.         Members of the former task and finish group were to be briefed on the new integrated waste management strategy, with a report due to be considered by cabinet on 29 July 2021.  It was noted that the litter review task and finish group would need to be conscious of relevant linkages to the strategy in its own work.

b.         It was confirmed that consideration was being given to the current partnership with Worcestershire Council and any future joint working arrangements with neighbouring authorities.  It was also confirmed that a waste communications officer had been appointed recently.

c.         The importance of contract monitoring in terms of the destination of waste collected for recycling and the need for further communications with residents about getting waste into the right place.

d.         There was a discussion about the potential for additional communications around identifying, separating and preparing materials for recycling; such as educating people to inform their purchasing choices and the use of visual guides on waste bins.

e.         It was confirmed that consideration was being given to increased reuse provision at household recycling centres (HRCs).

f.          It was acknowledged that the current booking system ensured that HRCs could only be used by Herefordshire residents but it was suggested that there should be greater flexibility in terms of access, especially during lower levels of demand.

g.         Comments were made about the need for the unified waste strategy to put the resident at the heart of it, in order to help them to reuse, repair and recycle.  Reference was made to the national resources and waste strategy and the need to refine the approach locally to simplify and communicate key messages.

h.         There was a discussion about the waste generated by small holiday let businesses, including the current requirement to use plastic sacks.  An overview was provided of the rules and regulations associated with commercial waste.  It was commented that the council should help small businesses to comply with the objectives of the strategy and any issues with national legislation should be highlighted to the government.

i.           It was noted that suspected  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

To consider the committee’s work programme.

It was reported that committee members had met informally on 12 July 2021 to discuss the work programme.  The committee considered the outcomes of this session and prioritised items of business for future meetings, including an additional meeting on 10 August 2021 for the pre-decision call-in of the forthcoming decision ‘Freehold disposal of the Town Hall, St Owen Street’, and agenda items for the following meeting on 13 September 2021. 

There was a brief discussion about how the re-thinking governance proposals for the scrutiny committee structure could impact upon existing and emerging work programme items.  It was considered that there was a need to prioritise future scrutiny activity on the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) and on the Hereford City Centre Transport Package (HCCTP).

A draft scoping statement for the litter review task and finish group was considered, including the scope of the activity to be undertaken, the membership, chairperson, timeframe, desired outcomes and what will not be included in the work.  It was reported that Councillor Bowes had suggested the inclusion of two co-optees from local litter picking groups and this was supported by the committee.

Resolved:  That:

a)         the work programme, as amended, be approved to include:

i.          in accordance with Constitution paragraph 4.5.90, pre-decision call-in be undertaken of the forthcoming decision ‘Freehold disposal of the Town Hall, St Owen Street’ and an additional meeting be arranged on 10 August 2021 to examine the issues around it;

ii.         agenda items on the Maylord Orchards shopping centre and on the disposal of the Holme Lacy school site be considered at the meeting on 13 September 2021; and

iii.        priority be given in future scrutiny work programming to agenda items on the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) and on the Hereford City Centre Transport Package (HCCTP).

b)      the litter review task and finish group be established and the scoping statement be confirmed, including the membership comprising: Councillors Bowes (chairperson of the group), Bowen, Milln, Probert, Summers, and one representative of the Liberal Democrats group; and two co-optees from local litter picking groups.

Monday 13 September 2021, 10.15 am

Tuesday 10 August 2021 at 10.15 am.