Agenda item

RLeBrun took the report as read.

RLeBrun focused on Q3, noting that it was a difficult year for waste services with 200 days lost due to Covid-related absence.  The national shortage of drivers also resulted in the loss of 5 full-time drivers and many agency drivers.  RLeBrun confirmed that they managed to maintain all services during this time.  An agreement was secured to pay a supplement to LGV drivers, which was put in place at the end of November, and has resulted in retaining drivers and the re-employment of the 4 out of 5 drivers who previously left. 

Clean, Safe and Green lost 90 days due to Covid, and a number of LGV drivers were deployed to waste collections, though over 80k bedding bulbs were still planted across the borough and new wildflower areas were created.  Work has also started on the play area and High Street Green, and 5 Green Flag parks were retained due to hard work behind the scenes and maintenance.  RLeBrun noted a memorial garden in Gadebridge Park is being created for those lost during Covid and a ceremony is due to take place in July 2022. 

A number of environmental projects took place, including a zero waste day in Hemel town centre, a second-hand competition to help encourage second-hand shopping, and 90 1,100 litre bins were handed out to 53 blocks of flats to encourage recycling.  There were also clothes swap events taking place with another to take place in the coming weeks, and work is taking place on sustainable period poverty and reusable nappies.  The Monsters on a Mission competition has seen high engagement, and 236 Street Champions have received equipment with a further 214 registered, and there has been an increase in registrations for the Love Food, Hate Waste challenge.  During Q3, waste services received 8,277 requests, including 483 bulky item requests and 328 fly-tipping reports.

Work is also taking place on the service plan for the coming year, which includes a refresh of KPIs, and a review will come back to the Committee on how measurements link to corporate priorities.

Cllr Birnie congratulated the team for the lack of disruption to services during the pandemic and commended Craig Thorpe for managing to bring the 4 out of 5 drivers back.  Cllr Birnie also welcomed the Covid memorial idea and congratulated the team for its implementation.

Cllr Timmis congratulated the team for the Covid memorial and for the action against fly tipping, noting that 2 fly-tippers had been caught.  Cllr Timmis noted that a number of planning applications requires works to or removal of trees and asked if the Tree Officer is involved in checking these applications.  RLeBrun confirmed that they are involved in planning applications and will check what mitigations need to take place, and if a tree is to be removed, they will seek to have it replaced where possible.  RLeBrun confirmed that Luke Johnson is the current Tree Officer and works in the Woodlands Team.

Cllr Harden asked how often KPIs are reviewed.  Cllr Harden noted the team’s strong response to the recent storms and asked who should be contacted if there are any concerns about remaining trees.  Cllr Harden also noted the successful crisp packet stand has now been removed and asked when the council had done this.  On KPIs, RLeBrun advised that they are reviewed when service plans are created, and the current review will ensure that KPIs are linked to performance.  Going forward, reviews will take place during the service plan, if guidance changes and if the SPAE OSC requests an update.  RLeBrun advised that concerns regarding trees should be reported to Luke Johnson and suggested that he provide a list of all relevant services for councillors to report issues.  RLeBrun confirmed that he would find out why the crisp packet recycling stand had been removed from the council building.

Cllr Harden commented that he was concerned that data on the KPIs was incorrect and that requirements were only a year old.  Cllr Harden asked if a trees and woodland mailbox currently exists.  RLeBrun confirmed that it does.

Cllr Birnie requested that percentages be used in the revised KPIs.

Cllr Birnie noted that they are renegotiating the contract with Herts County Council on roadside trees and maintenance.  Cllr Barrett advised that they have so far agreed to continue on an interim basis and the ongoing contract is currently being negotiated.

Cllr Beauchamp asked on the distribution of communal waste bins for flats, noting that a number of flats still do not have them.  RLeBrun confirmed that he would look into this further.  Cllr Birnie requested that a written response be provided to the full Committee.

Cllr Beauchamp noted that Netflix have asked to make a bench available as thanks for filming on the high street and suggested that this be put in Gadebridge Park.  RLeBrun confirmed that the bench was placed in the square a week ago. 

Cllr Birnie referred to page 11 of the report and asked what Easytreez is..  RLeBrun advised that this is the software used to monitor trees. 

Cllr Birnie noted the number of initiatives listed under item 4 of the report and remarked that it was disappointing that that there was no mention of Tring or any villages regarding Recycle Week and Great Big Green Week stalls.  RLeBrun confirmed that he could verify this. 

Cllr Harden suggested that, given it is an official report, ‘Berko’ be replaced with ‘Berkhamsted’.  RLeBrun noted the mistake and confirmed this would be corrected. 

Cllr England queried item 4, bullet point 9 on page 11 of the report regarding Street Champions, noting that the portfolio holder had informed him on 28th January and had confirmed there were 561 registered champions and 305 had been issued with equipment.  Cllr Barrett confirmed that the data provided in the email was correct and that the figures in the report were out of date.  Cllr England suggested those figures should have been included in the report and asked what was being done to get the remaining 40% of Street Champions operational.  Cllr Barrett noted that Cllr England had asked him this question recently and reiterated that all registrants are emailed monthly, though it is a voluntary initiative.  Cllr England asked if they should therefore claim they have 305 Street Champions given that these are the ones with equipment.  Cllr Barrett responded that they are clear on the number that has been signed up. 

Cllr England queried the KPI on the time to replace a tree.  RLeBrun stated that this would depend on the tree and that it may not be a like for like replacement, and a more specific answer could be given at a later date.  Cllr Birnie agreed that like for like replacements are not always required.  Cllr Barrett suggested there is no current KPI in the form requested.  Cllr England suggested it currently takes 7 years to replace a tree and asked how they plan to improve this.  Cllr Barrett advised there “like for like” does not necessarily mean that a tree is replaced in the same place and that there is a desire to increase the number of trees being planted and to reduce the time this takes, though this was a particular challenge given the recent storms. 

ACTION: RLeBrun to find out why crisp packet recycling stand has been removed from the council building.

ACTION:  RLeBrun to provide a written response to the full committee on distribution of communal waste bins to flats. 

ACTION: RLeBrun to confirm what actions did take place for Recycle and Big Green Weeks.