Agenda item

To receive the draft scoping document for the review of Waste & Recycling services in residential flat blocks.

The Chair opened the discussion by referring members to the scoping document, noting that the topic had previously been touched upon and now warranted a dedicated focus. The Chair reiterated that Waste and Recycling in Flat Blocks had been identified as a key concern due to the increasing number of such developments in Stevenage.

The Chair highlighted that the review would include site visits, a presentation already delivered earlier in the year, comparative analysis, and engagement with officers. There was also potential for participation from officers at Dacorum Borough Council to provide external insight, given their prior experience in similar initiatives.

The Scrutiny Officer confirmed that the Bring Bank sites would be included in upcoming site visits scheduled for 21 July 2025.

The Chair summarised the projected timeline: continuation of site visits, a potential ride-along to the depot (pending arrangements), and a series of officer presentations and witness interviews and evidence gathering through September, October, and November, culminating in a final report and recommendations by the end of the year.

A Member commented on the issue of building height, noting the differences in recycling capacity between low-rise social blocks and higher-density private blocks. The Chair agreed that higher-rise blocks should be included in the site visits.

Members discussed the value of capturing tenant voices, proposing resident surveys as part of the evidence-gathering process.

A Member requested data on the Council's own waste from events and public spaces (e.g. Stevenage Day), commenting that waste appeared not to be segregated. The Chair suggested these points be raised with relevant officers.

A Member proposed more recycling bins in public areas such as parks and footpaths. They also shared a positive example of temporary recycling support provided during Ramadan at the Stevenage Muslim Community Centre.

A Member suggested including an audit of recycling practices within the Council's own buildings.

The Vice-Chair cautioned against allowing the review to broaden excessively and lose focus. While recognising the value of related points, they urged the Committee to remain aligned with the agreed scope.

In response, some Members asserted that many of those concerns were raised at the outset but not captured in the original scoping. The Chair and Scrutiny Officer acknowledged this and noted the importance of balancing focus with flexibility.

The Scrutiny Officer clarified that while the main review focus must remain on flat blocks—due to their pressing challenges—there was room within the scope to include related data and insights where relevant. Officers welcomed the review as an opportunity to drive improvements in an area they openly acknowledged as underperforming.

The Chair reiterated the importance of maintaining a targeted focus on flat blocks while recognising the validity of broader waste and recycling concerns.

The Committee agreed to proceed with the current scoping document,

The Committee expressed provisional satisfaction with the scoping document for the review on waste and recycling in flat blocks and agreed to move forward with the planned programme of site visits, officer presentations, and resident engagement with the understanding that related concerns may be raised again in future reviews.