Issue - meetings
QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS
Meeting: 11/07/2024 - Council (Item 22)
22 QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS 
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To consider any questions submitted by Members of the Council, in accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11 (b).
Decision:
In accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11, 4 question had been submitted by the required deadline set out in the Constitution.
(A) Legal Advice Received on the Waste Contract Award
Councillor Ralph Muncer to Councillor Daniel Allen, Leader of the Council.
(B) Local Authority Flex Collect Scheme Rollout
Councillor Joe Graziano to Councillor Dave Winstanley, Executive Member for Housing and Environmental Health.
(C) Electric Vehicle Chargers in North Hertfordshire
Councillor Ralph Muncer to Councillor Chris Hinchliff, Executive Member for Planning and Transport.
(D) Planning Control Committee Agenda Management
Councillor Ruth Brown to Councillor Elizabeth Dennis, Chair of Planning Control Committee.
Minutes:
Audio recording – 31 minutes 29 seconds
N.B Councillor Steven Patmore left the Chamber at 20:15 and returned at 20:18.
In accordance with Standing Order 4.8.11, four questions had been submitted by the required deadline set out in the Constitution.
(A) Legal Advice Received on the Waste Contract Award
Councillor Ralph Muncer to Councillor Daniel Allen, Leader of the Council:
‘What legal advice has been given to this authority regarding the new Waste Contract, specifically the conflict of a three weekly residual waste collection with the draft Statutory Guidance on the Collection of Waste from Households October 2023 which is proposed to be made under Section 45AZE of the Environmental Protection Act 1990?’
Councillor Daniel Allen provided the following response:
‘North and East Herts Councils received detailed legal advice from Sharp Pritchard regarding the draft statutory guidance to support the Council’s decision making progress. The advice was provided as an appendix to the Part 2 report to both the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet’.
Councillor Ralph Muncer asked a supplementary question, as follows:
‘Does the Leader of the Council agree that by implementing a three weekly bin collection of residual waste, not only is this authority going against that statutory guidance and industry best practice, but it will impose upon our residents a worse service compared to that which they currently receive?’
Councillor Daniel Allen responded:
‘The Cabinet had regard for the draft statutory guidance in Appendix 6 and had taken that into account, the matters were set out in the part two report, there were reconfirmed the decision on the three-weekly collection. One thing I would say as you have mentioned ‘smelly waste’, which is a phrase that I hate and was given to us by the outgoing Government, households with ‘smelly waste’ would be allowed the opportunity for more frequent collections, if entitled. Other than that Councillor Muncer you have seen all the reasoning and it is all available to you’.
(B) Local Authority Flex Collect Scheme Rollout
Councillor Joe Graziano to Councillor Dave Winstanley, Executive Member for Housing and Environmental Health:
‘Why is this authority unable to offer the full benefits of the ECO4 Plus LA Flex Scheme unlike other local authorities in the region including Watford Borough Council and Luton Borough Council?’
Councillor Dave Winstanley gave a response as follows:
‘Just a bit of background, ECO 4 is an acronym of Energy Company Obligation and it is an initiative where energy companies fund energy efficiency upgrades to qualifying private homes, the qualification criteria relates to low income or otherwise vulnerable households, homeowners. Under ECO 4, there is no Local Authority involvement, homeowners apply directly for that. Now ECO 4 Flex which is what the question relates to is an additional optional element which Local Authorities may choose to administer, the Local Authority can declare additional households as eligible for the funding, provided they meet the criteria under Eco 4. Now last year this Council instigated the setting up of an ECO 4 Flex scheme ... view the full minutes text for item 22