To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2019.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 4 September 2019 as a correct record.

Report of the Strategic Director Neighbourhoods

This report provides Members with an update on progress in delivering waste, recycling and street cleansing services. This report includes information on a range of activities previously requested by the Committee.

The Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director (Neighbourhoods) that provided Members with an update on progress in delivering waste, recycling and street cleansing services.

The Strategic Lead: Waste, Recycling and Street Cleansing Services referred to the main points and themes within the report which included: -

·         Providing a context for the service within Manchester;

·         Providing a budgetary context of the service;

·         Information and service specification of the Biffa contract;

·         Delivery of the Biffa contract;

·         Information on the contract and performance monitoring of the Biffa contract;

·         Contract performance data over a range of activities;

·         Data and information relating to residential street cleansing;

·         Information regarding passageway cleansing;

·         Information regarding litter bins and bag collection points;

·         An update on seasonal leaf removal and performance data against this activity;

·         An update on seasonal weed removal and performance data;

·         Information on the approach to the cleansing of cycle lanes;

·         Information on the Keep Britain Tidy (KBT) Local Environmental Quality study that had been undertaken in August 2019;

·         Information and data relating to waste collections;

·         Information and data regarding flytipping and the response to this;

·         Information on unlicensed waste removal companies and flytipping;

·         Recycling performance and an update on the apartment service changes;

·         Partnership working with Registered Providers to support delivery of the apartment recycling project;

·         Update on the work with Universities and Landlords to address issues of increased waste from student houses at the end of term;

·         The approach to education, engagement and enforcement and key issues and lessons learnt from the student departure in 2018;

·         The approach to student departure in 2019, using lessons learnt; and

·         An update on the Keep Manchester Tidy Partnership.

The Committee then heard from John-Paul Coe, Wythenshawe Waste Warriors who described the work undertaken by himself and other volunteers in the local community. He stated that the group were keen to network and support other groups to deliver similar environmental improvements and community engagement events. He described that the group had engaged with local schools, friends of parks groups, the scouts and the local football team to encourage them to deliver local environmental projects and take collective responsibility for areas.

Mr Coe described the school mapping project that was being delivered locally that involved over thirty schools. School children were identifying and mapping their local green spaces and the ambition was to then use this intelligence to engage with local residents and businesses to maintain and care for those areas and promote a sense of community ownership and pride in the area. He stated that the ambition was to digitise these maps as a resource for people.

Mr Coe concluded by expressing his gratitude to the local Members for their continued support for this and other projects. The Chair on behalf of the Committee thanked Mr Coe and his fellow volunteers for their commitment and asked that this good practice be shared with other groups who maybe experiencing challenges and barriers to delivering similar projects to physically improve their neighbourhood. Mr Coe commented that he would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

Report of the Behaviour Changer and Waste Task and Finish Group

This report presents the Neighbourhoods and Environment Scrutiny Committee with the findings of the detailed investigation undertaken by the Behaviour Change and Waste Task and Finish Group.

The Committee considered the report of Behaviour Change and Waste Task and Finish Group that presented the Members with the findings of the detailed investigation undertaken by the Group.

Councillor Hughes, who had chaired the Task and Finish Group stated that the work of the Group had been very productive and informative. He expressed his gratitude to the Members of the Group, the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Officers and those members of the public who had contributed to the enquiry. He concluded by commending the report to the Committee.

Decisions

The Committee: -

1. Note the findings of the Task and Finish Group and endorse the recommendations as set out in section 8 of the report.

2. Resolve to refer the recommendations to the Executive.

3. To request a progress report on the implementation of these recommendations at an appropriate time.

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit

This report includes details of the key decisions due to be taken that are relevant to the Committee’s remit as well as an update on actions resulting from the Committee’s recommendations. The report also includes the Committee’s work programme, which the Committee is asked to agree.

The report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit which contained key decisions within the Committee’s remit and responses to previous recommendations was submitted for comment. Members were also invited to agree the Committee’s future work programme.

Members suggested that the remit of the Highways report should also include data on the number of complaints received following preventative works and this to be provided at a ward level if available; information to be included regarding the approach taken to closing roads and lanes to accommodate building works and how this disruption is managed and information on the resident parking scheme relating to the Christie Hospital site.

The Chair informed the Committee that reports had already been prepared and that she would speak with officers to enquire if these additional requests could be accommodated.

Decision

The Committee notes the report and approves the work programme noting the above comments.