Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Planning and Environment presented a report setting out the results arising from a review of the current garden waste kerbside collection arrangements and making the case for the introduction of an annual service charge to households for the collection of garden waste, with the new charge to be introduced from 1 April 2024.

The report had been developed following Cabinet approval on 13 November 2023 of a range of budget savings proposals listed in the council’s Budget Strategy Implementation Plan.

It was reported that the collection of garden waste was a discretionary service for which the Council could make a reasonable charge under the provisions of the Controlled Waste Regulations 2012. The Council had provided a non-chargeable garden waste kerbside collection service for many years but given the unprecedented financial pressures that the Council was facing and in line with the recently adopted fees and charges policy, it was felt appropriate for the Council to consider the introduction of an annual charge to households who wished to continue to receive the kerbside service.

The total cost of providing the non-chargeable service in 2023/24 was circa £672,000. The introduction of an annual charge for the garden waste kerbside collection service would make a significant contribution to reducing the total cost of providing the service whilst enabling the Council to continue to provide a valued service to those households who chose to opt-in.

The Council had launched its ‘budget conversation’ with the borough’s residents, businesses, and other stakeholders in November 2023. The conversation had captured views on the Council’s budget strategy and the generality of the budget savings proposals. However, a specific consultation exercise had been undertaken between 20 December 2023 and 10 January 2024 on this specific proposal. The results indicated that circa 25% of households would be prepared to pay an annual charge for the service.

It was recommended that an annual charge of £40 be introduced for the kerbside collection of garden waste from 1 April 2024, and that a year one early bird annual charge of £30 be made available for any household subscribing to the service before 1 May 2024.

*RESOLVED –

1.   That the introduction of an annual fee for residents who wish to continue to use the kerbside garden waste collection service from 1 April 2024 be approved.

2.   That the current free of charge service be ceased on 31 March 2024.

3.   That an annual subscription charge of £40 per annum for the service be approved.

4.   That a year one only, early bird annual subscription charge of £30, be approved for any resident subscribing to the paid garden waste collection service before 1 May 2024.

5.   That a sum of up to £40,000 be allocated, to enable the Service Director – Leisure, Culture and Community Wellbeing in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Planning and Environment to make appropriate adjustments to the current staffing arrangements within the Council’s waste management service to support the introduction of the paid garden waste service and its ongoing management.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

1.   To comply with the Council’s Budget Strategy for recovering fees and charges to contribute to the costs of service delivery.

2.   To respond to the savings targets identified in the Budget Strategy Implementation Plan, which was approved in November 2023. This will enable the Council to work towards developing a balanced 2024/25 budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan.