STIRLING COUNCIL

 

MINUTES of MEETING of STIRLING COUNCIL held as a VIRTUAL MEETING by

MICROSOFT TEAMS on THURSDAY 4 MARCH 2021 at 10.00 AM

 

Present:

Provost Christine SIMPSON (in the Chair)

 

Councillor Maureen BENNISON
Councillor Neil BENNY
Councillor Alistair BERRILL
Councillor Margaret BRISLEY
Councillor Robert DAVIES
Councillor Douglas DODDS
Councillor Martin EARL
Councillor Scott FARMER
Councillor Bryan FLANNAGAN
Councillor Danny GIBSON

Councillor Graham HOUSTON
Councillor Chris KANE
Councillor Alison LAURIE
Councillor Alastair MAJURY
Councillor Jeremy MCDONALD
Councillor Susan MCGILL
Councillor Ross OXBURGH
Councillor Jim THOMSON

Councillor Alasdair TOLLEMACHE
Councillor Evelyn TWEED

 

In Attendance

 

Carol Beattie, Chief Executive

Kevin Argue, Transport Development Team Leader
Crawford Bell, Community Development Manager

Annemargaret Black, Clackmannanshire & Stirling Health & Social Care
Partnership/Integrated Joint Board

Jim Boyle, Chief Officer – Finance
Stephen Clark, Chief Officer – Housing

Martin Dalziel, Team Leader for External Communications
Christopher French, Learning & Teaching Co-ordinator
Michael Grassom, Service Manager – Children’s Services
Charlie Haggerty, Legal Manager

David Hopper, Public Transport & Sustainable Development Manager
Kristine Johnson, Chief Officer – HR&OD

Drew Leslie, Senior Manager – Infrastructure

Bruce McClure, Service Manager – Delivery of CRD

Isabel McKnight, Chief Operating Officer – Communities & Performance
Bryony Monaghan, Interim Head of Education (Chief Education Officer)
Gordon O’Connor, Audit Service Manager

Owen O’Donnell, Communications Officer

Stuart Oliver, Senior Manager – Economic Development & Communities
Bruce Reekie, Senior Manager – Environment & Place

Brian Roberts, Chief Operating Officer – Infrastructure & Environment
Keir Stevenson, Place Development Manager

Julia McAfee, Chief Officer - Governance (Clerk)
Jean Houston, Governance Officer (Minute Taker)
Islay Moore, Support Officer – Governance

Lesleyann Burns, Support Officer – Governance (Observing)

Prue MacKay, Senior Admin Support Officer – Schools, Learning & Education (Observing)

Also In Attendance

 

Andrew Bain, Chief Executive – Active Stirling Council
Andrew Wallace, External Audit‌‌

Dr Niall Hamilton-Smith, Petitioner

 

Recording of Meeting started

 

Prior to the commencement of business, the Provost welcomed and thanked everyone for attending the meeting via MS Teams. A statement was read to the meeting providing detail on the procedures related to MS Teams and the protocols that both Members and Officers should adhere to throughout the meeting. Members were advised that they would be limited to two questions per item at this meeting.

 

The Provost asked the Clerk to carry out a roll call of all Members participating in the meeting. The Clerk confirmed all Members except for Councillor Alasdair MacPherson were in attendance.

 

SC369 APOLOGIES

 

Apologies were received on behalf of Councillor Alasdair MacPherson.

 

SC370 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

Councillor Alasdair Tollemache declared a non-financial interest in Item 10
“Dementia Friendly City”, as Chair of Town Break Stirling.

 

Councillor Martin Earl, Councillor Danny Gibson and Councillor Alison Laurie
declared a non-financial interest in Item E16 “Active Stirling Recovery Plan”, as
Directors of the Board.

 

SC371 URGENT BUSINESS

 

There were no items of urgent business.

 

SC372 MINUTES

 

The following minutes were submitted for approval:-

 

1. Meeting of Stirling Council – 10 December 2020
   Decision

   The Minutes of the Special Meeting of Stirling Council held on 10 December 2020 were agreed as an accurate record of proceedings.

2. Appointments Panel – 12 February 2021
   Decision‌‌

   The Minutes of the Meeting of Appointments Panel held on 12 February 2021 were agreed as an accurate record of proceedings.

    

3. Local Review Body – 14 December 2020Decision

The Minutes of the Local Review Body held on 14 December 2020 were
agreed as an accurate record of proceedings.

 

SC373 WRITTEN QUESTIONS

 

Four written questions had been received in terms of Standing Order 30. The
questions and answers are attached at Appendix 1 to these Minutes.

 

The Members who had put the written questions were allowed one
supplementary question and the supplementary questions and answers
are also included in Appendix 1.

 

SC374 QUESTION TIME

 

In terms of Standing Order 37, Members had the opportunity to put questions to the Provost, the Leader of the Council, any Portfolio Holder or Committee Convener or Chair of any Panel as appropriate regarding any business included in the Volume of Minutes circulated with the agenda for the meeting and any minutes on the agenda for approval.

 

The following question was put:-

 

Councillor Jeremy McDonald - Minutes of Environment & Housing Committee
on 3 December 2020 (EH226 - Question regarding climate emergency plan)

 

Councillor Jim Thomson advised that a Working Group had been set up to look at the Climate Emergency Plan and the draft report would be out the following week. Views would be welcomed. This would be an interactive plan, reviewed and updated regularly.

 

SC375 BRIEFING REPORT IN RESPONSE TO THE VIEWFORTH LINK ROAD PETITION

 

This report set out to response to the items raised within the petition “the Viewforth Link Road: a pause for reconsideration and community consultation”, submitted by the petitioner, Dr Niall Hamilton-Smith. The petition requested Council:

 

• To prioritise investment in a green and just recovery, addressing its declaration of a Climate and Ecological Emergency;

• To continue to invest in more robust sustainable transport initiatives throughout Stirling with a strong emphasis on prioritising pedestrians, cyclists and affordable public transport across rural and urban Stirling;

• To work with local people to develop a more ambitious vision: cleaner, healthier and environmentally sustainable, drawing on the strengths and energy of our local communities, small businesses and producers. This vision must meet the challenges set in the Scottish Government’s National Transport Strategy delivery plan, whilst making effective use of up-to-date evidence and innovation;

• To protect and develop local biodiversity for the benefit of us all and avoid ecological degradation at all costs.

 

The Petitioner congratulated the Council on its petition process and thanked
Members for the opportunity to present the petition. He welcomed the recent
announcement by the Administration that it was not planned to include the Viewforth Link Road (VLR) as part of this year’s budget proposals, but he wished the petition to be considered in a changing environment along with alternative strategies.

 

The Petitioner presented reasons for the petition including matters such as the
importance of air pollution on health and mortality rates; an increase in the volume of cars and traffic noise; redistribution of HGV vehicles through residential streets, some of which were cycle routes; the impact on buildings; and effects on the environment. He questioned how the Viewforth Link Road could merit ‘ecological sacrifice’ and also how public behaviour and attitudes would be shifted.

 

The Petitioner recognised the financial pressures on the Council but urged Members to use the pause time to consider various proposals, identify alternative options for the Viewforth site, and to consult fully during the process.

 

The Senior Manager, Infrastructure presented a briefing report in response to the VLR petition which set out the background to the link road and how the project had been developed. The report also gave commentary on issues raised in the petition.

 

Discussion took place regarding matters raised by the Petitioner on the Viewforth Link Road, and the potential impact on the Viewforth Masterplan, in the context of the local Transport Strategy and the Local Development Plan. It was widely acknowledged that during the pause there would be the opportunity to hear all sides of the argument on the Masterplan and the link road, and any future decision could then be taken subject to the changing conditions.

 

At 11.30am the Council agreed to adjourn in terms of Standing Order 75

Recording of meeting was stopped
The Meeting reconvened at 11.40am with all Elected Members (previously noted) present

 

Recording of Meeting resumed

 

Clarification was provided on the competence of the proposed Amendment. The Chief Officer - Governance advised that the process for continuing consideration of the petition at the next meeting of Council would be circulated to all Members.

Motion

 

“That Council agrees to continue consideration of the petition at the next meeting of Council, pending the submission of further information.”

 

Proposed by Councillor Jim Thomson and seconded by Councillor Danny Gibson.

 

Amendment

 

That:

“Council notes the petition and the strength of public feeling on this issue.

 

Council indicates its intention to cancel the Viewforth Link Road and will continue consideration of the item (option D of the petitions process). Council requests information that would allow it to make a decision with regards to the following matters and proposals:

 

That

 

1. Council will cancel the Viewforth link road.

2. Council will amend the local transport strategy to remove the Viewforth link road from its plans.

3. Council will remove of the link road from the local development plan and any other plans and strategies.

4. Furthermore, Council as the developer for the planning application for the Viewforth link road will no longer wish to develop it further and requires a paper to come forward detailing the legal options for rescinding planning permission.

5. Council will consider a new strategy for the future use of the land with a public consultation on possible uses

6. Council delegates to officers to ensure that the Viewforth Link Road is fully cancelled and will form no part of our deliberations in the future.”

Proposed by Councillor Neil Benny and seconded by Councillor Bryan Flannagan

 

On the roll being called the Members present voted as follows:-
For the amendment (9)

Councillor Neil Benny
Councillor Alistair Berrill
Councillor Douglas Dodds
Councillor Martin Earl
Councillor Bryan Flannagan
Councillor Alastair Majury
Councillor Jeremy McDonald
Councillor Ross Oxburgh
Councillor Alasdair Tollemache

 

Against the amendment (12)

 

Councillor Maureen Bennison

Councillor Margaret Brisley
Councillor Robert Davies
Councillor Scott Farmer
Councillor Danny Gibson
Councillor Graham Houston
Councillor Chris Kane
Councillor Alison Laurie
Councillor Susan McGill
Councillor Christine Simpson
Councillor Jim Thomson
Councillor Evelyn Tweed

 

The amendment fell by 12 votes to 9
For the Motion (20)

Councillor Neil Benny
Councillor Alistair Berrill
Councillor Margaret Brisley
Councillor Robert Davies
Councillor Douglas Dodds
Councillor Martin Earl
Councillor Scott Farmer
Councillor Bryan Flannagan
Councillor Danny Gibson
Councillor Graham Houston
Councillor Chris Kane
Councillor Alison Laurie
Councillor Alastair Majury
Councillor Jeremy McDonald
Councillor Susan McGill
Councillor Ross Oxburgh
Councillor Christine Simpson
Councillor Jim Thomson
Councillor Alasdair Tollemache
Councillor Evelyn Tweed

 

Against the Motion (0)

 

Not voting (1)

 

Councillor Maureen Bennison

 

The Motion was carried 20 votes to 0 votes with one Member not voting.

 

Decision

 

Council agreed to continue consideration of the petition “the Viewforth Link Road: a pause for reconsideration and community consultation” at the next meeting of Council on 29 April 2021, pending the submission of further information.

 

(Reference: Report by Senior Manager - Infrastructure, dated 19 February 2021, submitted).

SC376 AUDIT COMMITTEE: ANNUAL REPORT 2019-20‌

 

This report presented the Audit Committee Annual Report 2019-20 for consideration by the Council. The Audit Committee approved the report for submission to Council at its meeting on 26 November 2020.

 

Preparation of an Annual Report enabled the Audit Committee to meet best practice guidance issued by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA) in its publication titled ‘Audit Committees: Practical Guidance for Local Authorities and Police’. Best practice arrangements include the Audit Committee accounting for its work to the Council as ‘those charged with governance’, and providing an assessment, at least annually, of its performance in discharging its role and functions, as set out in the Council’s Scheme of Delegation.‌‌‌‌‌

 

Decision

 

Council agreed to consider and note the Audit Committee Annual Report 2019-20 at Appendix 1 to the report, and the Audit Committee Assurance Statements contained within the Annual Report at pages 12 and 13 therein.

 

(Reference: Report by Chief Officer - Governance, dated 26 January 2021,
submitted).

 

SC377 CONSULTATION ON REVIEW OF THE STIRLING COUNCIL PROHIBITION OF DRINKING OF ALCOHOL IN PUBLIC PLACES BYELAW

 

The purpose of this report was to seek Council approval for officers to undertake a consultation on the amendment of the existing Stirling Council byelaw prohibiting the drinking of alcohol in public places (the “Byelaw”). The purpose of the consultation was to ascertain whether there was support amongst our communities and partner agencies for an extension to the existing Byelaw and to commence the required process in compliance with the statutory framework.

 

The proposed amendments to the Byelaw are (1) an extension to the geographical extent of the Byelaw in the Callander area and (2) to further define the offence of drinking alcohol in a public place.

 

The consultation process might identify further proposals for extending the coverage of the Byelaw and, if so, these will be reported back separately to Council for further consideration.

 

The Legal Manager responded to Members’ questions on the definition of an “open container” and the wording of the Byelaw. He explained that the wording was taken from a suite of model byelaws devised by the Scottish Government and as such could not be reworded. The Legal Manager offered to undertake further study of what legally constitutes an “open container”.

 

The Legal Manager confirmed the statutory requirement for consultation and that the full outcome of responses would be reported back to Council. A decision would be taken on which organisations could be represented at the Council meeting that would consider the amendments, so that a balanced view could be taken.

Members noted that Perth & Kinross Council had experienced similar problems and were looking to introduce a similar Byelaw where the council areas met. Other councils in the National Park area would be contacted to see if there were plans for alignment across the National Park area.

 

Decision

 

Council agreed to:

 

1. note the contents of this report and the proposed amendments to the current Byelaw;

    

2. approve the proposal for officers to consult with members, our communities and external partners on the proposed amendments to the Byelaw; and‌

    

3. note that officers will bring to Council a further report detailing the outcome of the consultation for Council to decide on further action if appropriate.

 

(Reference: Report by Chief Officer - Governance, dated 5 February 2021,
submitted).

 

At 12.45pm the Council agreed to adjourn in terms of Standing Order 74

Recording of meeting was stopped
The Meeting reconvened at 1.15pm with all Elected Members (except Councillor Davies and Councillor Earl) present

 

Recording of Meeting started

 

SC378 DEMENTIA FRIENDLY CITY

 

This report provided an update on the completed Dementia Friendly City Audit -
“Making Stirling a Dementia Friendly City – A Citizen Led Places and Spaces
Project”.

 

Councillor Davies and Councillor Earl rejoined the meeting

 

The Chief Executive confirmed that there would be a focus to adopt the principles of the report across all Council services with training and awareness raising being rolled out.

 

The Senior Manager – Economic Development & Communities responded to
Members’ questions and confirmed this would become a consideration at the early stage of all infrastructure works. In addition, although the city centre had been the focus of the report, the service would be examining how this could impact on all communities across the council area.

 

The Senior Manager – Economic Development & Communities advised that the
matter of accreditation was being examined, also with the Tourism Forum, so there could be signposting to the places where you could be guaranteed a good experience.

It was intended to report back on a regular basis so that Members could assess progress.‌‌

 

Decision

 

Council agreed:

 

1. to consider and comment on the contents of the report;

    

2. that officers will proceed with the implementation of the “Making Stirling a Dementia Friendly City” report recommendations included in Appendix 1; and

    

3. that Dementia Friendly Stirling principles become embedded in all future
   decision-making and project design processes across all Council Services.

 

(Reference: Report by Senior Manager – Economic Development & Communities, dated 22 February 2021, submitted).

 

SC379 REVIEW OF STIRLING COUNCIL GAELIC PLAN 2021-2026

 

Under the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 (the “2005 Act”) Stirling Council is required to produce a Gaelic Language Plan (the “Plan”). The current Plan covers the period 2016-2021.

 

Bòrd na Gàidhlig wrote to the Council in August 2020 to advise that the current Plan expires on 7 December 2021. The Council has a statutory duty in accordance with section 7(2) of the 2005 Act, to review, renew and submit its revised Plan for the next 5 year period to Bòrd na Gàidhlig, for approval on or before that date.

 

This report set out how the Council would support the review of the Plan for the period 2021-2026.

 

Decision

 

Council agreed to:

 

1. the proposed consultation and review of the Plan as outlined in this Report; and

    

2. note that following the consultation process the reviewed Plan will be first presented to Bòrd na Gàighlig in line with the statutory requirements, and thereafter presented to Stirling Council for approval before December 2021.

 

(Reference: Report by Chief Operating Officer (People) & Chief Education Officer, dated 8 February 2021, submitted).

 

SC380 APPOINTMENT OF STIRLING MAKAR

 

In October 2008, Stirling Council agreed to approve the process for the appointment of a Makar and that an honorarium for the 3-year period of appointment be committed from the Civic Budget.

This report provided an update on the progress made in recruiting a new Makar for Stirling Council for a further three year period. This process had been led by Library Services and supported by HR.

 

Members agreed that the Makar should be invited to speak to Members at an
appropriate occasion in the future.

 

Decision

 

Council agreed to approve the appointment of a preferred candidate as Makar for a period of three years and the associated honorarium of £1000 per annum from the Civic budget.

 

(Reference: Report by Senior Manager, Economic Development & Communities, dated 8 February 2021, submitted).

 

SC381 PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING UPDATE

 

This report provided an update on the 2019/20 “Your Stirling: You Decide” successful proposals and progress with Participatory Budgeting (PB) during 2020/21 and included information on variations, challenges and changes to timelines as a consequence of COVID-19.

 

The Provost left the meeting and Councillor Houston took the Chair

 

In response to Members’ questions the Chief Operating Officer Communities &
Performance confirmed that the consultation exercise would have many facets and take place across a variety of communities and not across ward boundaries. She agreed to provide additional information on “Your Stirling: You Decide” projects to Councillor McDonald. Every effort was being made to complete projects that had met significant challenges.

 

The Provost rejoined the meeting.

 

The Chief Operating Officer Communities & Performance gave assurance that the consultation would be wide ranging and the voting mechanism would be reviewed.

 

Decision

 

Council agreed to:

 

1. note progress achieved against the successful proposals for 2019/20;

    

2. note the update on timescales for the 1% Framework target; and

    

3. note the high level plan attached in Appendix 5 to the report.

 

(Reference: Report by Chief Operating Officer – Communities & Performance, dated 8 February 2021, submitted).

SC382 BVAR IMPROVEMENT ACTION PLAN – PROGRESS UPDATE‌‌

 

This report provided a progress update on the improvement action plan developed to implement the recommendations presented in the Stirling Council Best Value Assurance Report (BVAR) prepared by Audit Scotland, April 2019.

 

Members congratulated officers on the progress made considering the substantial challenges they had had to deal with.

 

Decision

 

Council agreed to:

 

1. note the progress made towards the achievement of the actions detailed in the BVAR improvement action plan (Appendix 1); and

    

2. note that regular updates on the progress made towards achievement of the improvement actions will be provided to future meetings of Stirling Council.

 

(Reference: Report by Chief Operating Officer – Communities & Performance, dated 8 February 2021, submitted).

 

SC383 MOTIONS IN TERMS OF STANDING ORDER 39

 

(a) Changes to Waste Collection Service

 

1. Council notes that its decision on the 30th June to reduce the frequency of waste collection has had a significant adverse public response.

    

2. Council further notes that many people in Stirling are unhappy with the
   introduction of a charge for garden waste collection.

    

3. Council resolves to cancel the changes to waste collection frequency for
   both grey (residual) and blue (recyclable plastics and cans) waste and
   continue with fortnightly collection.

    

4. Council also resolves to levy no charge for garden waste collection.

    

5. Council requests that waste services bring forward proposals to take
   advantage of efficiencies that can be made from the roll out of the comb
   collection method bins (the new brown and grey bins that are being rolled out to residents).

    

6. Council apologises to the people of Stirling for making this unnecessary and unwelcome change without any form of consultation.

 

Proposed by Councillor Neil Benny and seconded by Councillor Martin Earl

 

Amendment

 

1. Council notes that its decision on the 30th June to reduce the frequency of waste collection has had a significant adverse public response (No change).

2. Council further notes that many people in Stirling are unhappy with the
   introduction of a charge for garden waste collection (No change).

    

3. Council resolves to postpone until 1 October 2021 the waste collection
   changes whilst a review takes place alongside a full consultation with the
   public. Any amended proposals will come back to Full Council for a decision.

 

Points 4, 5 and 6 removed.

 

Proposed by Councillor Alasdair Tollemache and seconded by Councillor Robert
Davies.

 

Direct Negative

 

Proposed by Councillor Jim Thomson and seconded by Councillor Danny Gibson.

 

The Chief Officer – Governance advised that in terms of Standing Order 76 there required to be an automatic vote to determine whether to continue the meeting or to adjourn to another date and time.

 

Council agreed unanimously to continue the meeting.

 

At 3.40pm the Council agreed to adjourn in terms of Standing Order 74

Recording of meeting was stopped
The Meeting reconvened at 3.50pm with all Elected Members (previously noted) present

 

Recording of Meeting started

 

Councillor Benny withdrew his motion and accepted the amendment proposed by Councillor Tollemache, seconded by Councillor Davies as the Substantive Motion.

 

On the roll being called the members present voted as follows:
For the Substantive Motion (10)

Councillor Neil Benny
Councillor Alistair Berrill
Councillor Robert Davies
Councillor Douglas Dodds
Councillor Martin Earl
Councillor Bryan Flannagan
Councillor Alastair Majury
Councillor Jeremy McDonald
Councillor Ross Oxburgh
Councillor Alasdair Tollemache

Against the Substantive Motion (11)

 

Councillor Maureen Bennison
Councillor Margaret Brisley
Councillor Scott Farmer
Councillor Danny Gibson
Councillor Graham Houston
Councillor Chris Kane
Councillor Alison Laurie
Councillor Susan McGill
Councillor Christine Simpson
Councillor Jim Thomson
Councillor Evelyn Tweed‌‌‌

 

The Substantive Motion fell by 11 votes to 10

 

Council resolved that under Section 50A (4) of the Local Government
(Scotland) Act 1973, the public be excluded from the Meeting for the following
item of business on the grounds that it involved the disclosure of exempt
information as defined in Paragraphs 4 and 6 of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the
Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

 

Recording of the Meeting was stopped.

 

SC384 ACTIVE STIRLING RECOVERY PLAN

 

Councillor Majury left the meeting

 

This report provided Council with the Active Stirling Recovery Plan (the “Recovery Plan”) which had been developed in response to the current, and anticipated, challenging operating environment in which Active Stirling was trading. The Recovery Plan was designed to provide assurance to the Board of Active Stirling, and the Council as Sole Member, that Active Stirling could achieve commercial recovery within the shortest possible timeframe.

 

Councillor McDonald left the meeting

 

Decision

 

Council agreed to:

 

1. note the Active Stirling Recovery Plan included as Appendix 2, and update included as Appendix 3;

    

2. note that Officers will continue to work with Active Stirling to support the
   delivery of the recovery plan and monitor the progress of Active Stirling’s
   commercial recovery alongside achievement of contractual objectives; and

3. delegate the Sole Member consideration and decision on the appointment of Independent Directors to the Board of Active Stirling, to the Convener and Vice Convener of the Community Planning and Regeneration Committee, and the Senior Manager – Economic Development and Communities.

 

(Reference: Report by Senior Manager – Economic Development and Communities,
dated 22 February 2021, submitted).

 

The Provost declared the Meeting closed at 4.45pm

APPENDIX 1

 

Councillor Thomson advised that this was outwith the remit of Stirling Council. The Council was trying to standardise the
process in line with existing procedures.

Answer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APPENDIX 2

 

MEETING of the STIRLING COUNCIL to be held as a VIRTUAL MEETING via

MICROSOFT TEAMS on THURSDAY 4 MARCH 2021

 

Motion in Terms of Standing Order 39
Information/Advice from Officers

 

1. Changes to Waste Collection Service

The risk implications of reversing some of the decisions made at Council on 30 June 2020, as highlighted in this Officer response to the motion, relate to projected savings and income not being met and therefore resulting in the creation of budget pressures.

 

The Diamond uplift system of self-centring Diamond bins was first introduced in 2007, deemed at the time to be an efficient, modern European and secure method of uplifting waste and recyclates from the kerbside. With this system collection was considered possible in an easy one-person operation due to the existing fleet consisting of mainly side loading vehicles.

 

In 2016, the Service changes implemented saw a move away from box collections that separated material at the kerbside, to the green and blue bin system that collects paper and card (green bin) and cans and plastics (blue bin). With this change saw the introduction of a full fleet of rear-end loading vehicles, which collect all kerbside wastes.

 

Household kerbside waste collection is segregated into colour-coded bins: grey for household residual waste, brown for garden and food waste, green for paper and card and blue for cans and plastics. There is also a 55 Litre blue box for glass.

 

Grey and brown bins are currently collected fortnightly on opposite weeks. Blue bins are collected every fortnight and green bins and glass boxes are collected every 4 weeks. The grey and brown bins were predominately “Diamond” style bins and the blue and green bins are “Comb”.

 

Waste Services currently operates a 7 day collection service with operational staff working a rolling four day on and four day off shift pattern.

 

The Waste Service has been operating with significant overspends since the implementation of the current working arrangements in 2016. In 2019/20 Stirling Council built in a recurring revenue allocation of £500,000 to the Waste Service budget. Even taking account of that support the current overspend position,
excluding Covid 19 related costs, is £650,000.

 

These costs contribute to a high cost of collection. According to the last Local Government Benchmarking Framework (LGBF) figures, Stirling Councils refuse collection service was ranked 32 out of 32 for cost of collection per household, making it the most expensive collection service in Scotland.

 

Waste Services is undertaking a transformational programme to improve service delivery and offset the cost overspend and reduce the cost of refuse collection. The Service was given approval in June 2020 to implement a series of changes, including:

• Replacement of Diamond bins – October 2020 (project is now complete)

• Introduce Charge for collection of Garden Waste – from April 2021 (householders
  will receive letters in early March)

• Change of collection frequency for Grey and Blue bins to Four-weekly collection –
  After July 2021

• The removal of kerbside glass (box) collections from July 2022, upon implementation of the National Deposit Return Scheme which is being introduced by Scottish Government.

   

  As set out in the transformational change paper of June 2020, the projected savings associated with each of these projects is as follows:

   

• Garden Waste Charging (April 20) – £552,000

• Four- Weekly Collection Frequency (After July 21) - £357,000

• Removal of Glass Service (July 22) - £217,000
  4 Weekly Collections

  By moving grey and blue bins to four-weekly collections the Service has identified significant opportunities in achieving its commitments to reducing environmental impact, as well as reducing pressures on the service budget. The key benefits that
  this will realise will be:

   

• refuse collection vehicle fleet flexibility;

• consistency with national vehicle and bin systems;

• improved route completion and customer satisfaction; and

• a reduction in wheeled bin and parts expenditure.

 

The ability to move on to full optimisation of the collection service, including service frequency changes, will deliver significant savings and increased recycling participation. This will also see an improvement in the Council’s net cost of refuse collection indicator.

 

A cancellation of the move to 4 weekly collection of both grey and blue bins would result in the projected saving of £357,000 not being met.

 

When developing the optimal solution for Stirling Councils Waste and Recycling Services other options were investigated, however they did not provide the operational flexibility and efficiencies provided by a 4 weekly collection. The comparison of the projected net savings associated with the frequency collection options can be seen in Table 1 below.

 

Table 1:

Garden Waste Charging

 

Stirling Council provides a co-mingled Garden and Food Waste collection. All customers will continue to receive a brown bin for the collection of food waste. With the introduction of a chargeable garden waste service, customers who opt-in to the service would pay an annual charge of £35 for the collection of garden wastes.

 

For those customers who choose not to pay for the Service they can continue to use the brown bin for the collection of food waste only. Householders can also home compost their garden waste or dispose of their garden waste at our Household Waste and Recycling Centre’s.

 

In addition, a 100% concession, will be offered to those households in receipt of a Council Tax Reduction and those Council tenants who receive the garden maintenance service. A household with someone who is ‘severely mentally impaired’ may also qualify for the concession.

 

The garden waste charging scheme was always identified as opportunity for income generation. Part of the projected £552,000 income is being utilised to fund the loan costs associated with the diamond bin replacement programme. The initial estimated
loan costs were £204,000 over 12 years.

 

The quote that was accepted and agreed at the Environment and Housing Committee on 24 September 2020 for the cost of bins and roll out reduced the loan costs to £164,000 over 12 years.

 

Therefore, if no charge was made for garden waste collections this would result in the projected income of £552,000 not being met, resulting in a budget pressure of £164,000 for the loan costs.
Comb Bin Efficiencies

The efficiencies brought about by the change to comb bins have already identified and will start to be realised now that the roll out has been completed.

 

Vehicles

Collections from households with diamond bins were carried out using the vehicles with diamond lifts. When those vehicles broke down it was not possible to reallocate the work to the crews in comb lift vehicles.

 

In some cases, the outstanding work had to be collected by crews working additional days on overtime, causing a direct increase in costs, in other cases the work is absorbed by existing crews, adding to their workload and creating operational inefficiency.

 

Replacement Bins

An analysis of data has established that there were approximately 4,800 requests for replacement grey and brown diamond bins annually, mainly due to them falling into the vehicle. This compares to 2,950 requests for all other bins.

Diamond bins on average cost £8-£15 more to purchase than a standard industry Comb bins. From this data, it was forecasted that the total replacement rate would reduce and there would be a reduction in spend to purchase bins and in costs of delivering to households.

 

Contamination

The high precedence of diamond bins in the back of refuse collection vehicles, particularly on food and garden waste routes, caused contamination to loads for organic material. This resulted in additional picking costs, contamination charges and landfill disposal costs through the re-processing.