Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillors B Tebbutt and A Weinberg.  An apology for late arrival was received from Councillor S Kelly (1.28pm) and Councillor P Murphy (1.35pm).

We have confirmed as correct the minutes of our meeting held on 4 February 2008.

Received and noted the Assistant Executive Director’s report and appendices.  We have received commentary from the Executive Director that tonnage was more or less as expected, and the Temporary Transfer Station was now closed for the construction of the orange bag facility, requiring the diversion of Newham’s bulky waste to Edmonton.  The Bio Mrfs were working normally and successfully and Ilford Recycling Centre coped with extra wastes from Redbridge and the Reuse & Recycling Centres were running smoothly. 

The recycling figure for the period April and January was lower than projected at 16.5%.

Diversion from Landfill is reported to be better than projected at 44.5% and the total LATS surplus is 54874 although there is no market for the sale of these at present.

We have noted the report, together with the appendices but we are concerned about recycling performance.

We have noted the Finance Director’s report and received the Finance Manager’s commentary that the underspend of £113,000 was mainly as a result of an underspend on revenue contingencies. He stated that there were some outstanding issues and uncertainties facing the Authority but that an underspend could result for the year and this would be fed back to Revenue Reserves at the end of the year.

We have resolved to exclude the public and press from the remainder of the meeting by reason of the nature of the business to be transacted that included the detailed financial proposals of Shanks.east london in respect of the IWMS Contract, which is exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended.

In accordance with Minute 1539, we have received the Executive Director’s confidential report and appendices.  The Executive Director also provided commentary on the background to the report and developments subsequent to our last meeting.  Following a recent meeting between the Managing Director and Group Chief Executive of Shanks, to discuss our concerns, officers have recommended approval of the ABSDP.

We have expressed our discontent at recycling performance and our doubts about projections for 2008/09.  We have sought advice from the Legal Adviser on our position and requested a report on the options available to the Authority if poor recycling performance continues.

Following lengthy discussion, we have noted the recommendations and approved the ABSDP and asked officers to provide further reports.

We have also requested that a special meeting be arranged in July to consider first quarter 2008/09 performance against the agreed ABSDP.

Councillor Kelly enquired about meeting the Government’s new waste strategy which included higher targets.  Local targets, under the new Local Government Performance Framework, have not yet been set within the Constituent Councils.  We have agreed that the Authority should prepare a plan of recycling in the future when national and local strategies have been confirmed.