Agenda item

This Council believes that the people of Leeds deserve a truly ambitious waste strategy that delivers against their increased desire to recycle and fully contributes to tackling the recently declared Climate Emergency.

Council notes with disappointment the July Executive Board report ‘A Waste Strategy for the City of Leeds’ that entirely fails to deliver against these objectives or set out a strategy that will improve the services available to Leeds residents. Council is also concerned by the breakdown of the refuse collection service over the summer months, inconveniencing residents in a number of areas across the city.

This Council therefore calls for an urgent report to Executive Board that responds to the problems with refuse collection experienced over the summer, and calls on the administration to bring forward a Waste Strategy for Leeds that takes a lead on this agenda, delivering the enhanced collection services that residents want and deserve.

It was moved by Councillor Wadsworth, seconded by Councillor B Anderson that  this Council believes that the people of Leeds deserve a truly ambitious waste strategy that delivers against their increased desire to recycle and fully contributes to tackling the recently declared Climate Emergency.

Council notes with disappointment the July Executive Board report ‘A Waste Strategy for the City of Leeds’ that entirely fails to deliver against these objectives or set out a strategy that will improve the services available to Leeds residents. Council is also concerned by the breakdown of the refuse collection service over the summer months, inconveniencing residents in a number of areas across the city.

This Council therefore calls for an urgent report to Executive Board that responds to the problems with refuse collection experienced over the summer, and calls on the administration to bring forward a Waste Strategy for Leeds that takes a lead on this agenda, delivering the enhanced collection services that residents want and deserve.

An amendment was moved by Councillor J Bentley, seconded by Councillor Campbell

Delete the entire third paragraph and replace it with the following:

“This Council therefore calls for a report to the October Executive Board that responds to the problems with refuse collection experienced over the summer, includes an action plan for the delivery of the route rationalisation programme together with budgeted cost savings, and calls on the administration to bring forward a Waste Strategy for Leeds that takes a lead on this agenda, delivering the enhanced collection services that residents want and deserve.”

The White Paper would then read:

“This Council believes that the people of Leeds deserve a truly ambitious waste strategy that delivers against their increased desire to recycle and fully contributes to tackling the recently declared Climate Emergency.

Council notes with disappointment the July Executive Board report ‘A Waste Strategy for the City of Leeds’ that entirely fails to deliver against these objectives or set out a strategy that will improve the services available to Leeds residents.  Council is also concerned by the breakdown of the refuse collection service over the summer months, inconveniencing residents in a number of areas across the city.

This Council therefore calls for a report to the October Executive Board that responds to the problems with refuse collection experienced over the summer, includes an action plan for the delivery of the route rationalisation programme together with budgeted cost savings, and calls on the administration to bring forward a Waste Strategy for Leeds that takes a lead on this agenda, delivering the enhanced collection services that residents want and deserve.”

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Rafique, seconded by Councillor Lewis

Delete all after “This Council” and replace with:

“…… notes that under this Labour Administration the percentage of domestic waste sent to landfill in Leeds has reduced to less than 3% in 2019. Council notes that despite huge cuts to its budget by Conservative and Liberal Democrat led Governments, Leeds is one of the last remaining councils in the country to provide a free garden waste collection service. 

Council believes further ambitious action is needed to help residents and businesses in Leeds recycle, reuse or reduce waste produced in the city. However, Council is disappointed the Chancellor’s recent budget statement contained no funding for measures to help do this. Council believes this underlines the lack of urgency from Government on this issue, especially given that urgent action is needed now due to the Climate Emergency.

Council welcomes that in the face of continuing Government delays and inaction on this agenda, an interim waste strategy was agreed by Executive Board in July.  Council particularly welcomes that the interim strategy includes making preparations to expand food waste collections in Leeds. Council notes Executive Board agreed a further report should be submitted to a future meeting on work with outside groups, such as young people, to harness the appetite for this agenda.

Council commits to write to the Secretary of State to request they urgently confirm and progress the Government’s national waste strategy and support this Council and other local authorities to reform waste collections by reversing the damaging cuts to local government funding since 2010 and by providing additional funding for measures to increase recycling and reduce the amount of waste produced.”

The amendment in the name of Councillor Bentley was declared lost, the second amendment in the name of Councillor Rafique was carried and upon being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED – That this Council notes that under this Labour Administration the percentage of domestic waste sent to landfill in Leeds has reduced to less than 3% in 2019. Council notes that despite huge cuts to its budget by Conservative and Liberal Democrat led Governments, Leeds is one of the last remaining councils in the country to provide a free garden waste collection service. 

Council believes further ambitious action is needed to help residents and businesses in Leeds recycle, reuse or reduce waste produced in the city. However, Council is disappointed the Chancellor’s recent budget statement contained no funding for measures to help do this. Council believes this underlines the lack of urgency from Government on this issue, especially given that urgent action is needed now due to the Climate Emergency.

Council welcomes that in the face of continuing Government delays and inaction on this agenda, an interim waste strategy was agreed by Executive Board in July.  Council particularly welcomes that the interim strategy includes making preparations to expand food waste collections in Leeds. Council notes Executive Board agreed a further report should be submitted to a future meeting on work with outside groups, such as young people, to harness the appetite for this agenda.

Council commits to write to the Secretary of State to request they urgently confirm and progress the Government’s national waste strategy and support this Council and other local authorities to reform waste collections by reversing the damaging cuts to local government funding since 2010 and by providing additional funding for measures to increase recycling and reduce the amount of waste produced.