Agenda item

Service Improvement Planning (Contract Year 2)

Minutes:

Biffa’s Annual Services Improvement Plan (ASIP) sought to address how future improvements to services could be made and provided a mechanism for all parties to consider priorities and resources available.  A copy of the ASIP was appended to the report at Appendix 1.

 

Biffa’s Senior Business Manager comprehensively led the Committee through the ASIP and particularly focused on key improvement and innovation issues.  Several matters required consideration and further clarification.  During the discussion, the following salient points were noted:

 

·         Recycling Stickers: Recycling Information leaflets with a sticker would be circulated to all households promoting the correct use of the dry recycling system.  It was noted that the leaflet was being funded by East Sussex County Council and the sticker by Biffa.  Members were fully supportive of the sticker scheme.

 

·         Bulky Waste Booking Process: Operational issues had arisen therefore it was necessary for the Partnership to co-operate with Biffa regarding the on-line booking system.  Accurate information regarding the items to be collected was imperative, to ensure that the service performance was maintained.  Increased resource and / or costs could be warranted.

 

·         Customer Satisfaction Survey Feedback: Two improvements had been identified by residents namely to provide thicker pink recycling sacks and that paper calendars be discontinued. 

 

The Joint Waste Partnership Manager advised that 90% of pink recycling sacks were issued in Hastings and 10% in Rother (none in Wealden).  Between July 2019 and June 2020, the Partnership delivered approximately 960,000 pink recycling sacks at a cost of £46,000 per annum.  A common complaint was that the pink recycling sacks were insubstantial.  It was confirmed that the pink recycling sacks were biodegradable and made of recyclable material.  In recent months, the cost of the pink recycling sacks had significantly escalated by 25%, therefore it was agreed that further research on achieving better prices should be carried out prior to upgrading the pink recycling sacks. 

 

It was important that customer contact migrated to digital on-line formats, however it was thought where significant round changes were implemented, paper calendars should be issued as well.

 

·         Camber Sands: Over the winter period, Biffa in collaboration with Rother officers, would be investigating alternative containment and management solutions to address the high volume of litter accumulated during seasonal periods.

 

·         Container Management: The Joint Waste Partnership Manager would be investigating ways to improve container management and reduce costs.  Clarify was sought on container lifespan as this could have significant cost implications for the Partnership.  It was important that robust containers with a suitable range of spare parts were resourced and purchased.

 

·         Wheeled Bin Cleaning: The Joint Waste Partnership Manager to assess the feasibility and benefits of a collaborative business opportunity across the Partnership and with Biffa.  Once established, it was considered important that the Partnership did not subsidise this service.

 

·         Sustainability Joint Working Group: Biffa was committed to reducing the carbon impact of services and was keen to support each Councils’ carbon reduction declarations and aspirations towards being carbon neutral by 2030 / 2050.

 

A general discussion ensued on ways to reduce the Partnership’s carbon footprint and one suggestion was the use of electric vehicles.  Members were advised that the manufacturer (Dennis) was developing an electric version of the narrow fleet vehicle that Biffa currently operated.  Operating an electric fleet would be more sustainable and cost-effective long-term compared to diesel.  However, an electric fleet would only be effective and economically viable when operated in an urban area.  The Committee recommended and agreed that the Joint Waste Office and Biffa developed an electric vehicle project to be trialled in Hastings. 

 

Members were reminded that for financial and logistical reasons, the contract did not include the collection of cartons and tetra paks e.g. long-life milk, fruit juice etc., for recycling.  Tetra paks required a special process to be recycled and there was only one facility in the UK that was able to do this.

 

The Joint Waste Partnership Manager advised that Biffa’s Annual Report had not been included with the paperwork and therefore recommendation 1) would be removed.

 

The Committee welcomed the key improvements / innovations proposed by Biffa and felt that a joint approach with the Partnership was the best way forward.  The Committee would be kept abreast of the ASIP’s development.

 

RESOLVED: That:

 

1)    officers be authorised to support delivery of the actions and activities proposed by Biffa in the Annual Service Improvement Plan;

 

2)    the distribution of stickers and associated local communication efforts to reinforce recycling messages be supported;

 

3)    officers be authorised to review bulky waste collection systems and improve customer satisfaction;

 

4)    officers further research the costs of thicker pink plastic sacks prior to upgrading;

 

5)    that electronic communications channels be prioritised (and consequently annual calendars not posted to all residents);

 

6)    it be noted Rother will consider proposals for improving the management of litter at Camber;

 

7)    officers be authorised to assess the feasibility and commercial benefits of a collaborative wheeled bin cleaning opportunity;

 

8)    officers be authorised to invite and include Biffa in local climate change and carbon reduction forums; and

 

9)    the Joint Waste Office and Biffa developed an electric vehicle project to be trialled in Hastings.

 

 

Supporting documents: