Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual

Contact: Alison Atherton  Tel: 020 8424 1266, E-mail:  alison.atherton@harrow.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

67.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Guy Lambert.

68.

Declarations of interest

Members are reminded that if they have a pecuniary interest in any matter being discussed at the meeting they must declare the interest.  They may not take part in any discussion or vote on a matter in which they have a pecuniary interest.

Minutes:

RESOLVED: There were no declarations of interest.

69.

Minutes of the meeting held on 26 June 2020 pdf icon PDF 105 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 June 2020 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

70.

Matters Arising

Minutes:

Minute 58 – Risk Register

 

A Member sought an update in relation to the Managing Director’s visit to the West London Composting Site in July and was advised that the Authority was satisfied that the necessary procedures were in place in terms of reducing the impact on air quality.

71.

Projects and Waste Minimisation Update pdf icon PDF 835 KB

Minutes:

Members received a report which provided an update on the Authority’s waste minimisation, efficiency and joint working projects.

 

Peter Tilston, Projects Director outlined the content of the report and responded to Members’ questions as follows:-

·         In terms of accessibility to online booking forms and the completion thereof, the booking system and forms were subject to constant review, including any over booking of slots. Officers were working with the provider to determine whether any improvements could be made.

·         The main impact of the booking system had been that it allowed more time for staff at the HRRCs to engage with and advise users of the site. He would provide data as to levels of recycling since the introduction of the system and noted the Member’s comments that residents continued to question the need for a booking system.

 

Members welcomed the work on the food waste project.

 

RESOLVED: That the investment in the boroughs food waste business cases, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

72.

Contracts Update pdf icon PDF 97 KB

Minutes:

Members received a report which provided an update on the Authority’s waste treatment and procurement arrangements. Members noted that there were confidential appendices elsewhere on the agenda.

 

Tom Beagan, Head of Service Delivery, reported that since the report had been drafted there had been an increase in waste flows. He reassured Members that robust procedures were in place to mitigate the issues arising from the COVID 19 pandemic and he outlined the communication systems used to ensure rapid and timely responses.

 

In response to a question in relation to the lower green waste tonnages since July, the officer advised that there was now better data available but that many different variables could be the driver for this including different gardening habits during lockdown and the weather. Levels of garden waste had now returned to those normally expected.

 

A Member noted that the West London Composting contract was reported as performing well and asked if this took into account the complaints received about odour. Officers confirmed that they were satisfied that odour was being managed effectively by the contractor (see Minute 70 above) and confirmed that this had been taken into account when it was determined that the contract was performing well.

 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

 

 

 

 

73.

2019/20 Budget Monitoring Report Period 4 (July) pdf icon PDF 381 KB

Minutes:

Members received a report which provided and update on financial and operational matters.

 

RESOLVED: That (1) the current financial position, forecast for 2020/21 and sensitivity analysis be noted;

(2) the Key Performance Indicators be noted;

(3) the financial decisions taken under the scheme of delegation to officers be noted.

74.

Treasury Management Update pdf icon PDF 177 KB

Minutes:

Members received a report which provided an update on the Authority’s Treasury Management activities.

 

RESOLVED: That (1) the treasury management outturn for 2019/20 be noted;

(2) the update for the current year, including treasury management and prudential indicators, be noted. 

75.

Exclusion of the Press Public

To resolve that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence, or of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972:

 

Agenda Item No

 

Title

Description of Exempt Information

 

10.

Contracts Update – Annexes

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That in accordance with Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item for the reasons set out below:

 

Item

 

10.

Title

 

Contracts Update - Annexes

Reason

 

 

Information under paragraph 3 (contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

 

 

76.

Contracts Update - Annexes

Minutes:

Members received the confidential Annexes to the Contracts Update report which appeared elsewhere on the agenda.

 

RESOLVED: That the recommendations in relation to the out of hours waste service and residual waste strategy, as set out in confidential annexes 1 and 2, be approved.