To receive a presentation from the Contractor on the Waste Collection, Recycling, Street and Beach Cleaning and Associated Services Contract.

The Senior Business Manager led Members through Biffa’s presentation which provided an update on the Waste Collection, Recycling, Street and Beach Cleaning and Associated Services Contract.  During the presentation the following points were noted:

·         Health and Safety: This was a primary focus for Biffa.  During the period December 2020 to February 2021, 135 near misses and 1,009 hazards (concerns reported by employees), as well as nine personal injuries were reported.  Out of 22,770 staff working days, the accident rate equated to 0.04%.

·         486 Control Room Audits had been carried out on crew performance.

·         The following safety, health and quality improvements had been applied and/or completed: safer together and HR Toolkit refresher training for supervisors; asbestos training; fleet compliance audits and competency training; graffiti removal training; and four DRoPs (Driving Recklessly on Pavements) incidents reported to Operation Crackdown.

·         HR Update: As of February 2021, there were nine full-time vacant positions.  Average staff turn-over from November 2020 to February 2021 was 3.5%, an increase since the last meeting.

·         Since the last meeting, one supervisor had been transferred from Amberstone to the Bellbrook site which enabled parity across the Wealden locations.

·         Overall, collections, repeated missed collections and street cleansing performance had improved across the Partnership.  Wealden’s collection performance reduced slightly which was attributed to a significant increase in COVID related absence; monitoring would be ongoing.

·         Since April 2020, in compliance with the specification, all “scheduled” high speed roads had been completed (200km exceeded).  Permits had been requested for 2021 scheduled cleansing.

·         Fly tips: Levels remained consistent with three hotspot areas namely Brede Valley in Rother and Pevensey and Westham in Wealden.

·         Container Deliveries: In December 2020 and January 2021 99% and February 2021 98% container deliveries had been completed within the Service Level Agreement; despite an increase in demand in February 2021, stock levels were adequate.

·         COVID-19: 465 (326% increased, 109 days previous quarter) working days had been lost as a result of absence relating to COVID-19, of which 174 were high risk and 291 were self-isolation which had caused an impact on service performance.

·         Culture Change – Continued Investment: Refurbishment of Bellbrook was completed.  Introduced employee well-being programme and Biffa Involvement Group.  Annual Engagement Survey commenced in February 2021 (participation rate was 92%).  Employee enrolment to the downloadable Biffa Group App, known as Biffa Beat was ongoing.  Transfer of staff to the new primary location for Wealden Streets and transfer of one supervisor from Amberstone to Bellbrook, plus the recruitment of one supervisor to further enhance the management team based at St. Leonards.

·         Contractual Updates: It was confirmed that a number of actions had been completed and were commencing / ongoing within the Annual Service Improvement Plan.

Despite challenging times, Biffa re-iterated their commitment to maintaining and improving service performance across the Partnership.

At the conclusion of the presentation, Members had the opportunity to ask questions and the following was noted:

·         Roadside Litter: Concern was aired that since the initial lockdown in March 2020, roadside litter (A, B and C roads) had significantly increased, therefore it was important that service performance and regular cleansing was completed throughout the year.  Reassurance was given that all relevant provisions, additional supervision and appropriate training had been and would be implemented to support street cleansing services.  Biffa would continue to provide the councils with street cleansing equipment for community litter picking groups.

·         Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean: Members were advised that the Great British Spring Clean event would be held from 28 May 2021 to 13 June 2021; an opportunity to join the local community to improve the environment by clearing litter from the streets, parks and beaches.  Although the councils were leading on their own individual campaigns, the Committee felt that it was important a consistent message was conveyed across the Partnership on all social media platforms not to drop litter and to take it home.

·         Fly-tipping: Clarity was sought as to whether the increased number of fly-tipping incidents reported in the last year across the Partnership area was attributed to COVID-19 restrictions implemented at the Household Waste and Recycling Centres (HWRC).  Linkage was difficult to evidence, it was unclear why fly-tipping levels had increased.  East Sussex County Council was working closely with Veolia to ensure that the HWRCs were fully operational.  Despite a short period of closure at the start of the first lock down last year, all HWRC sites were open, extra staff employed (inside and outside sites) and national guidance followed e.g. social distance measures and traffic management restrictions implemented.  Council enforcement teams would continue to monitor, investigate all fly-tipping incidents and prosecute where possible.

·         WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Collection: Hastings advised that complaints were still being received regarding the non-collection of WEEE items.  Biffa advised that despite some initial teething issues, these should now be resolved.  Any further issues should be reported in the normal way.

The Chairman, on behalf of the Committee, thanked and congratulated Biffa and their workforce on their excellent performance and continued efforts to ensure that the waste and cleansing services were successfully delivered during these unprecedented times.

RESOLVED: That the presentation be noted.