Issue - meetings

Report FSD18057

The Portfolio Holder was asked to endorse the provisional 2017/18 outturn for the previous Environment Portfolio showing a £1.831m under-spend against a controllable budget of £38.5m (a 4.76% variation). Excluding £280k carry forward sums, the under-spend amounted to £1.551m. Details of variations were outlined in Report FSD18057. 

The Portfolio Holder was also asked to approve drawdown of the following  carry forward sums from Central Contingency:

In discussion, and in considering the variations for Waste Services, reference was made to a diversion of 16,540 tonnes from landfill to Mechanical Biological Treatment (MBT). The treatment included recovery of as many recyclable materials as possible with remaining waste then stabilised and compressed for energy recovery. No guaranteed volume from L B Bromley was necessary for MBT and the plant used by the waste contractors had been affected by a fire issue. However, the aim would be to deliver as much to MBT as projected for 2017/18. The new contracts would also incentivise suppliers to provide innovative waste treatment solutions e.g. compacting waste into pellets for fuel at continental power plants. Trade waste income also increased more than previously expected in the remaining three months of 2017/18 resulting in additional income of £53k above budget.

Highlighting a reduction in emptying recycling banks (contributing to a £61k underspend on the waste collection contract), a Member stated that he had seen recycling banks overfull with material dumped alongside, a particular example being at the High Street Car Park in Chislehurst. With operatives unlikely to sort through bags, the Member was concerned that the material would be landfilled. However, reductions in material to recycling banks and fly-tipping resulted in a lower fee paid to Veolia. With Veolia paid according to price per tonne of material collected, Veolia had an incentive to collect recyclate. Some of the material might have been left outside due to the small window in the paper banks; these were designed to avoid non–recyclable packaging being left in cardboard boxes. The current waste contract was also near to expiry; vehicles were becoming old with those involved in recycling bank collections breaking down more regularly. However, with extra vehicles now acquired it was reasonable to expect a reduction in material left outside of recycling bins.

On Parking Services, a delay was highlighted in rolling out additional paid parking bays. They were still intended but it was a question of timing and matters related to consultation. In some cases traders can initially oppose schemes but subsequently welcome them on seeing a positive impact following installation. Pay and Display bays enable short period parking and prevent commuters parking at certain locations e.g. local shopping parades.

Although a year-end income deficit of £187k for on and off-street parking was partly due to early problems with the new parking contract, the deficit was mainly attributed to reduced usage. A Member enquired about any measures being taken to encourage further use of (Council-owned) car parks; introducing further reduced parking fees (for Bromley Town Centre) on a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6