To consider any items which the Chair has agreed to have submitted as urgent.

The Chair introduced an item of Urgent Business by inviting the Executive Member for Neighbourhoods to address the Committee on the reported changes to be introduced at Household Waste and Recycling Centres.

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods informed the Members that the changes had been introduced by the GMCA who are the Waste Disposal authority for 9 authorities within Greater Manchester to stop the illegal use of household waste recycling centres by traders and other businesses; help businesses understand their legal obligations when disposing of waste and help monitor visitor numbers to stop illegal use by traders.  Members were reminded that it was illegal to dispose of trade or business waste at any household waste recycling centres. Household waste recycling centres were only for residents to dispose of their household waste.

To deter traders Household Recycling Centres would be introducing limits on the number of times centres could be used by residents of Greater Manchester (excluding Wigan) each year, dependent on the type of vehicle used. Automatic number plate recognition systems and new access restrictions at all household waste recycling centres would help monitor visitors and identify illegal use.

The Committee heard from Councillor Reid, Ward Member for Gorton and Abbey Hey who stated that there was an area within her ward that had been blighted by fly tipping. She expressed her concerns that the changes proposed would increase incidents of fly tipping and Members should have been informed of these changes in advance of any press reports.

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods stated that he was aware of the issues in the Gorton and Abbey Hey area raised by Councillor Reid and informed Members that fly tipping hotspots continue to be targeted for enforcement action taken against identified perpetrators.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·         Condemning the recent violent attack on a member of staff by a member of the public at the Longley Lane Recycling Centre;

·         Members expressed disappointment that they had not been made aware of the changes until this had been reported in the Manchester Evening News and contact from concerned residents;

·         Communication with Members in relation to any service change needed to be improved, and provided regardless of the time of year or periods of purdah;

·         The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods and/or Officers should have addressed some of the inaccuracies within the press reporting;

·         Staff at the Reliance Street Centre had been witnessed facilitating the disposal of trade waste and they should be instructed to cease this immediately;

·         The vehicle registration of these trade vehicles attending Reliance Street and disposing of waste illegally should be recorded and passed to the Environment Agency to pursue an investigation and prosecution; and

·         Would the changes to the service be reviewed.

The Strategic Lead, Waste, Recycling and Street Cleansing informed the Committee that a Subgroup had been established to monitor the implementation and impact of the revised service. Members recommended that an evaluation report of the revised service be submitted for consideration at the Committee’s September 2020 meeting. Members further recommended that information on the communications framework, including that during periods of purdah be provided to the Committee at an appropriate time.

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods acknowledged the comments regarding communication with Members.

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods made reference to the recent violent attack on a member of staff at the Longley Lane Recycling Centre. He stated that this criminal act was unacceptable and the health and safety of all staff working at these sites was paramount. He informed the Committee that pending full training following this incident, staff had been advised not to challenge members of the public. He stated this decision had been taken in consultation with the Trade Unions.

Decisions

The Committee;

1. Recommended that an evaluation report on the revised service be submitted for consideration at the Committee’s September 2020 meeting.

2. Recommended that information on the communications framework, including that during periods of purdah be provided to all scrutiny committees at an appropriate time.

[Councillor Appleby declared a personal and non-prejudicial interest as her partner is employed by Biffa.]