Agenda item

Recommendations:

That the Executive approves: 

i.  That a subscription-based garden waste service be introduced in the Selby area in line with the rest of North Yorkshire at the harmonised rate. 

ii.  That subscriptions open from 3 July 2023 with the charged service beginning w/c 28 August 2023, and a pro-rata rate of £29 be charged for 2023/24. 

iii. To agree the further harmonisation of the garden waste service across the North Yorkshire Council area including charging periods, subscription periods and winter close down, based on the proposals for the Selby area. 

Considered – A Report of the Corporate Director – Environment seeking approval for the introduction of a subscription-based garden waste service in the Selby area in line with the rest of North Yorkshire at the harmonised rate.  The proposal was that subscriptions would open from 3 July 2023 with the charged service beginning w/c 28 August 2023, and a pro-rata rate of £29 be charged for 2023/24. 

The report also proposed that further harmonisation of the garden waste service across the North Yorkshire Council area including charging periods, subscription periods and winter close down be agreed based on the proposals for the Selby area.

Councillor Greg White introduced the report and confirmed that the collection of garden waste was not a statutory service, and whilst all the former District/Borough Councils did offer to collect it, only Selby District Council did so without any charge. He noted the proposal in the report would deliver a harmonised service.

There was one public submission received from Mrs Gillian Ivey, who was unable to attend the meeting.  Her submission was therefore read out on her behalf as follows:

‘As one of the lead Councillors who was responsible for the introduction of Green Waste Collection in the former Selby District Council Area, I have taken a keen interest in the results of the recent consultation on charging for Green Waste Collection.

I note that over 50% of responders have stated that they will simply put their green waste in the grey bin instead. This was not allowed under the scheme run by the former Selby District Council.

So my question to Executive members is this; are residents who do not wish to pay a charge for a green bin now allowed to put green waste in their grey bin ?

Although the paper presented today states there is no evidence of a major increase in weights of household waste following the introduction of charging in other areas, I do not see any facts and figures to back up this statement or an indication of where this was the case.  I suggest to you that based on previous experience and also the responses to the consultation question, that a different scenario may play out in the Selby area.’

In response Councillor Greg White confirmed 3,580 consultation responses had been received which equated to less than 9% of properties in the former Selby District Council area.  Whilst the consultation response indicated that 51% of respondents would put garden waste in residual bins that equated to less than 2,000 properties.  He also noted the following:

·          Information from the other garden waste collection services across the rest of North Yorkshire suggested households that did not subscribe to the service tended to either compost their garden waste material at home or take it to their local home waste and recycling centre.

·          Crews would not be checking refuse bins for garden waste and had never done so in the area.

·          Residents would be advised to compost or take their garden waste to the household waste recycling centre if possible.

·          Sharing garden waste bins with neighbours was another good option for residents to consider if they had smaller amounts of garden waste.

·          Composting at home was an easy and environmentally friendly way to deal with garden waste and residents can find out more at: www.northyorks.gov.uk/bins-recycling-and-waste/reduce-and-reuse/composting There were also instructions on how to turn an old wheelie bin into an efficient home composter. 

Councillor John McCartney questioned whether it was about harmonisation, as he suggested the level of service received would depend on where in North Yorkshire a resident lived.  He confirmed residents in his area were not happy with the proposal as it was seen as a 25% cut in service level, and he expressed concern that the service might be removed in the future if subscription take-up was low.

In response to his concerns and questions, Councillor Greg White confirmed the proposal to limit the service period was based on evidence of lorries coming back empty at certain times so the year. It was also confirmed that green bins would be removed on request from those who did not subscribe to the new subscription-based garden waste service, and they would either be re-used or recycled.  Finally he confirmed he had no concern about the long term sustainability of the service, noting that approximately 40% of households across other areas of the county made use of the services on a chargeable basis.

Councillor Michael Harrison reflected on when a chargeable service was introduced in the Harrogate area and confirmed that the same concerns were raised at that time but were proven to be unfounded.  Councillor Derek Bastiman confirmed the same experience in the Scarborough area when the service was introduced there.  He noted that the initial take up had been good and had since increased.

The Executive all voted in favour of the recommendations, and it was

Resolved – That:

i.       A subscription-based garden waste service be introduced in the Selby area in line with the rest of North Yorkshire at the harmonised rate. 

ii.    Subscriptions open from 3 July 2023 with the charged service beginning w/c 28 August 2023, and a pro-rata rate of £29 be charged for 2023/24. 

iii.    Further harmonisation of the garden waste service across the North Yorkshire Council area be undertaken, including charging periods, subscription periods and winter close down, based on the proposals for the Selby area.