Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods regarding the submission of a final bid for funding from the Weekly Collection Support Fund (WCSF) managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

Further to Minute No. 144, 14th December 2011, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report regarding the submission of a final bid for funding from the Weekly Collection Support Fund (WCSF) managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

Responding to concerns raised, the Board was assured that the proposed bid was realistic and that the proposals outlined within the submitted report would not lead to a two-tier system across the city. In addition, assurances were also provided in respect of a Member’s specific concerns regarding the future delivery of food waste collections in Leeds.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the submitted report be noted, and that the submission of a final bid to the WCSF by August 17th 2012, to fund the roll-out of weekly food waste collections to 80% of residents in the City be approved.

(b)  That the continued provision of these weekly food waste collections for at least two years beyond the end of the DCLG funding period (i.e. 2015/16 and 2016/17) as required by DCLG, be agreed.

(c)  That additional funding of approximately £4,000,000 per annum to deliver this service during the financial years 2015/16 to 2016/17 be approved, but it be noted that the savings in disposal costs (compared to landfill) derived from the development of the Residual Waste Treatment PFI facility would significantly offset these costs. Savings of an estimated £2,500,000 per annum from the fortnightly collection of residual waste and recycling that would accompany weekly food waste collections would also mitigate the costs of food waste collections post 2014/15 (as section 4.4 of the submitted report details).

(d)  That authority be delegated to the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods to amend the bid to address feedback from DCLG, provided that the proposals remain within the level of funding, as agreed at resolution (c) above.

(e)  That if the bid is successful, approval be given to a fully funded injection into the Capital Programme of the capital costs included within the final approved bid (currently calculated at £8,150,000), and that Authority to Spend up to this amount also be approved.

(f)  That officers’ intentions to seek further Member approvals regarding the specific weekly food waste collection service roll-out plans be noted, including the proposed geographical areas for inclusion within Phase 1, or, in the event that the DCLG bid is unsuccessful, for the pilot phase of fortnightly residual waste and recycling collections agreed by Executive Board in December 2011.

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor A Carter required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting on the decisions referred to within this minute)