Issue - meetings

To consider any questions submitted by Members of the Council, in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11 (b).

In accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11 five questions had been submitted by the required deadline set out in the Constitution.

(A)  Removal of Public Bins

Councillor Matt Barnes to Councillor Amy Allen (Executive Member for Recycling and Waste Management).

(B)  Royston Leaner Pool

Councillor Tim Johnson to Councillor Mick Debenham (Executive Member for Environment, Leisure and Green Spaces).

(C) Churchgate Regeneration

Councillor Ralph Muncer to Councillor Daniel Allen (Leader of the Council).

(D) Single Person Council Tax Discount

Councillor Ralph Muncer to CouncillorIan Albert (Executive Member for Finance and IT).

(E) Civil Enforcement Officer Roles

Councillor Ralph Muncer to Councillor Daniel Allen (Interim Executive Member for Planning and Transport).

Audio recording – 2 hours 31 minutes 49 seconds

In accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11, five questions had been submitted by the required deadline set out in the Constitution.

(A)  Removal of Public Bins

Councillor Matt Barnes to Councillor Amy Allen (Executive Member for Recycling and Waste Management).

"At Full Council in January, when discussing the planned removal of public litter bins arising from the new waste contract, the Executive Member for Recycling and Waste Management said:

"Once the proposed criteria is ready I will be able to share it with ward Councillors. Based on these criteria the potential for removal list will be shared with Members; the proviso being that if Members collectively want to keep a bin, then another will have to go. We will be asking Members to consider the need for the bin. We are also happy to engage with Parish Councillors who will no doubt have the knowledge of need in their Parish."

The Administration now appears set to go ahead with these plans without doing any of this. 

Last month it wrote to Parish Councils where 30% or more will be removed, but did not supply the proposed criteria or the potential removal list - making it difficult for them to provide any meaningful feedback. Parishes below this threshold, like Knebworth or Great Ashby, as well as unparished areas like Baldock, Letchworth and Hitchin, received no proactive communication, and nor were ward Councillors provided with any details about the impact in our areas - despite these very clear promises being made.

Could the Executive Member therefore explain to Council what has changed, and why the Administration now feels it is acceptable to go ahead with these plans without telling anyone which bins they intend to remove?”

Councillor Amy Allen gave a response as follows:

“The Waste Client Team are currently managing a program of projects in order to ensure the successful implementation of a new Waste Recycling and Street Cleansing Contract in May.

Like all new projects that are reviewed as they are implemented, a Member’s workshop was held on 12 September 2024 an opportunity for Councillors to consider and comment on the criteria used in assessing the need for littler bins.

Following this the team communicated updates on the project via the Members Information Service, that is the MIS which everyone gets every week. This provided updates on two occasions and is circulated to both Ward and Parish Councillors. The second update also included the letter to be sent out to those impacted by 30% or more bins being removed. Parishes and Ward Councillors are welcome to contact the team if they have any concerns about their area or the project as a whole.

Since the publication of the MIS note the team have responded to approximately 40 inquiries about the project, including those not in the 30% bracket such as Knebworth and Great Ashby and have shared criteria for each area where requested, as an example Knebworth Parish were proactive in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58