Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

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Minutes:

An apology for absence was received by Councillor N. Lewis.

 

2.

DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL INTEREST INCLUDING ANY PARTY WHIPS ISSUED IN RELATION TO ANY AGENDA ITEM.

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Minutes:

There were no declerations of interest.

There were no declarations of any prohibited party whips.

 

 

3.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS

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Minutes:

4.

PLACE, SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE SCRUTINY COMMITTEE ACTIONS - 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 101 KB

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Minutes:

5.

STREET CLEANSING STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT PLAN 2023 pdf icon PDF 106 KB

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Minutes:

 

The Committee received a report, presented by the Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste and Infrastructure Services, which provided key information in relation to the Street Cleansing Strategic Management Plan 2023.  The report presented the way in which the Council would review and improve its cleansing service delivery whilst meeting the legislative requirements of the Environmental Protection Act 1990.  The Plan would shape the future of the service to deliver the needs of the Local Environmental Quality Management Plan and duties discharged upon the Authority through the Code of Practice on Litter and Refuse and Associated Guidance 2007.

 

The following queries were raised in relation to the report:-

 

·       Reference was made to paragraph 1.19 of the report which cited that ‘The All-Wales Cleanliness Indicator for 2022-23 is 68.8 and Carmarthenshire currently have a rating of 67.4 placing us 14th overall in Wales.’  In response to a query raised, the Cabinet Member stated that there was confidence that the new Cleansing Service together with collaborative working would further improve upon the All-Wales Cleanliness Indicator in future.

 

·       It was raised that Councillors receive many e-mails from residents reporting full bins which require emptying.  In recognising these were often dealt with by local litter picking teams and therefore it was commented that this issue was under-reported having not gone through the Democratic Services reporting channel.  The Interim Head of Waste stated that as part of the efficiency savings litter bin receptacles would be reduced by 20% across the County and encouraged members to feed into the monitoring process. In response to a query, the Interim Head of Waste stated that the litter bin receptacles identified for removal throughout the County would be communicated to the respective ward member together with the rational.

 

·       A query was raised regarding the educating the public in respect of the Strategy.  The Interim Head of Waste explained that separate to the Street Cleansing Strategic Management Plan there was a robust education and awareness programme which was set out within the Local Quality Environment Plan.  In addition, key work was being carried out along side other local Authorities in respect of a developing an All-Wales approach as part of the Caru Cymru project.

 

·       In response to a query raised regarding raising awareness and education through the attendance of shows/fetes/events, the Interim Head of Waste explained that it was not possible to attend all shows/fetes/events, however a list of planned attendance would be shared with members and consideration would be given to developing a process whereby Members could request attendance at local shows/fetes/events should resources allow.

 

·       It was reported that Members would be in attendance at the Urdd Eisteddfod to educate children on reducing waste and recycling.

 

·       Clarity was sought in relation to the strategy to improve upon the current stage on the All-Wales Cleanliness Indicator rating and in striving for improvement included an increase in staffing levels and if so, would the dependency of agency staff be reduced and costs offset?  The Interim Head of Waste reported that as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

TO SIGN AS A CORRECT RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE HELD ON THE 14TH APRIL 2023 pdf icon PDF 144 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on the
14th
April, 2023 be signed as a correct record.

 

 

7.

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

THE REPORTS RELATING TO THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NOT FOR PUBLICATION AS THEY CONTAIN EXEMPT INFORMATION AS DEFINED IN PARAGRAPH 14 OF PART 4 OF SCHEDULE 12A TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 AS AMENDED BY THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) (VARIATION) (WALES) ORDER 2007. IF, FOLLOWING THE APPLICATION OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST TEST, THE COMMITTEE RESOLVES PURSUANT TO THE ACT TO CONSIDER THESE ITEMS IN PRIVATE, THE PUBLIC WILL BE EXCLUDED FROM THE MEETING DURING SUCH CONSIDERATION.

Minutes:

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED, pursuant to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) (Wales) Order 2007, that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items as the reports contained exempt information as defined in paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

 

8.

CWM ENVIRONMENTAL LTD 2022-2023 BUSINESS PLAN AND HALF YEAR PROGRESS REPORT

Minutes:

Following the application of the public interest test it was RESOLVED, pursuant to the Act referred to in minute no. 7 above, not to publicise the content of the report as it contained exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) (Paragraph 14 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A to the Act). The public interest test in respect of this report outweighed the public interest in maintaining confidentiality in order to preserve the company’s interests and standing in commercial / business negotiations.

 

The Committee received for consideration the Cwm Environmental Ltd 2022-23 Business Plan and Half Year Progress report, presented by the Managing Director of Cwm Environmental Ltd.

 

Members noted that the three-year CWM Environmental Ltd Business Plan 2022-23 to 2024-25 had been produced to set out the company’s strategic objectives, its service delivery objectives, the commercial risks that it faces together with its anticipated financial performance. The Plan also ensured that CWM’s strategy was aligned with and delivered upon Carmarthenshire’s waste agenda and wider objectives. 

 

The Progress report provided a mid-year update on performance and actions against the business plan for the 2022-23 financial year.

 

A number of queries were raised in relation to the report which were responded to by the Managing Director of Cwm Environmental Ltd supported by Officers.

 

Queries raised were in relation to:

 

·       Financial costs;

·       Compost and its pricing strategy;

·       Electric vehicles in the fleet replacement program 2025-2030 – associated issues and costs;

·       Circular Economy;

·       The Repair Workshop and Re-use Shop (ETO).

 

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Cwm Environmental Ltd 2022-2023 Business Plan and Half year Progress Report be received.

 

 

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