Agenda and minutes

Councillor Keith Burrows.

The Clerk advised that Councillor Burrows had provided reasons for his non-attendance at the meeting and reported these to the Authority. In accordance with Standing Order 5, Members of the Authority agreed that the reasons provided were sufficient and therefore the six month rule did not apply and that this should extend until the Authority’s meeting on 23 June 2017.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 December 2016 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

There were no matters arising.

The Chair reported that item 10, Contracts and Operations Update, and item 11, Budget Monitoring Report Period 8 (November) would be considered in Part I of the meeting. This was agreed by Members of the Authority.

Members received a report which set out the 2017/18 budget proposal.

Jay Patel, Head of Finance, outlined the content of the report and reported that there had be minimal change since the draft budget had been reported to the Authority in December 2016.

In response to a Member’s question as to whether the levels of waste in Hillingdon would increase given the regeneration in that area, the Chair advised that the figures included in the report were estimates. Jay Patel added that the tonnage estimate in Hillingdon was a little high in the previous year which may be why the figures had gone down.

RESOLVED: That (1) the 2017/18 budget be approved;

(2) the indicative Pay As You Throw (PAYT) rates, as set out in section 13 of the report, and resulting PAYT levy of £47.4 million be approved;

(3) the Fixed Cost Levy (FCL) of £12.5 million, as set out in section 14 of the report, be approved;

(4) the recommended trade waste prices, as set out in section 15 of the report, be approved;

(5) the proposed capital budget of £0.3million, as set out on section 16 of the report, be approved;

(6) the proposed level of reserves of £5.6 million to act as a buffer for managing risks and avoiding supplementary levies, as set out in section 17 of the report, be approved;

(7) the position on disbursement of reserves, as set out in section 18 of the report, be approved.

Members received a report which provided the treasury management plan for 2017/18.

RESOLVED: That (1) the treasury management plan for 2017/18 be approved;

(2) the prudential indicators and minimum revenue provision, as set out in section 3 of the report, be adopted.

Members received a report which provided an update on the delivery of projects in the current year’s Waste Prevention Action Plan.

Sarah Ellis, Waste Minimisation Co-ordinator, outlined the content of the report and advised that as a result of the way children had attended and participated in food waste prevention events such as the Disco Soup the next one would be for school children only. She added that there had been a second delivery of compostable liners to two boroughs just before Christmas and that communication work was on-going.

A Member sought clarification as to the methods of communication of events to ward councillors which was endorsed by another Member who stated that such communication would enable Members to publicise events more widely. The Member added that it was important that the Authority and the benefits of working in partnership were recognised. The Waste Minimisation Co-ordinator advised that the current budget would facilitate two events, such as Disco Soup, and that such events would need to be held on premises where preparation of food was permitted.

Emma Beal, Managing Director, acknowledged the points made in terms of communication and it was agreed that, in future, the Waster Minimisation team send out details of forthcoming events direct to Members of the Authority.

RESOLVED: That the progress of activities so far in 2016/17, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report, be noted.

Members received the report which provided an update on the Authority’s various waste treatment arrangements.

Ken Lawson, Contracts Manager, outlined the content of the report and advised that landfill diversion was now at 96% or above, the SERC (Severnside Energy Recovery Centre) facility had run well over the Christmas period and that he would be arranging a site visit shortly. In terms of the HS2 petition, an agreement had been reached between HS2 and the Authority and that agreement had been submitted to Network Rail for approval (as the freeholder to the site).

The Contract Manager advised that Ruth Cadbury MP would be visiting the Transport Avenue site that afternoon.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

Members received the report which provided an update on the financial position of the Authority, the key operational performance indicators and delegated financial decisions.

RESOLVED: That (1) the current financial position in 2016/17 to period 8 and Key Performance Indicators be noted;

(2) the financial decisions taken under the Scheme of Delegation to officers be noted.

Members were informed that this was the last meeting that Barry Lister, Assistant Senior Director, would be in attendance. The Chair, on behalf of the Members, conveyed his thanks to Mr Lister for his sound advice, the wealth of experience he had bought and stated that his work had been valued. Mr Lister made suitable response and thanked both Members and colleagues for their support.