To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 6 October 2015, as a correct record.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 October 2015, be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Any interests not already registered

No additional declarations of interest were made.

There were none.

There were none.

With the agreement of the Committee the Chairman moved agenda item 5 to after the presentation on household waste recycling promotional campaigns (agenda item 6).

The presentation was jointly presented by Paul Vanston (Kent Resource Partnership Manager) and Charles Nouhan (Sevenoaks District Council’s Recycling and Commercial Manager).

The presentation provided an update on recyclate quality, particularly the communication aspects.

The Council had been given funding by the Kent Resource Partnership so that it could provide more information to the public about the Council’s recycling services and to ensure that it was better engaged in the District’s efforts to increase household waste recycling quantity and quality.

Members were keen on reducing the levels of contamination (for example, where food waste is included in recycling materials).  A composition analysis (waste audit) of residual and recycling waste to asses what types of materials are being placed in waste and recycling sacks is to be undertaken later this year to help inform future communications.  It was noted that no individual or household would be identifiable.

The audit would:

•      Assess the types of materials currently being placed in 750 household residual waste sacks and 750 household recycling sacks from kerbside collections; and

•      Assess the types of materials from 750 sacks of household residual waste and 750 sacks of household recycling currently being placed in communal residual waste containers from blocks of flats.

The Committee expressed its thanks and appreciation to Paul Vanston for his years of dedicated service to the residents of Kent as Manager of the Kent Resource Partnership, during which time he had delivered significant savings for taxpayers alongside equally strong environmental improvements.  Members wished him well in his new role.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

            Resolved: That the presentation be noted.

The Chairman and Portfolio Holder for Direct and Trading Services advised Members that:

·         There were to be two community engagement events for the Bradbourne Car Park.  These were to take place on 15 and 18 February at the Mencap Community Hall, 71 Hitchen Hatch Lane, Sevenoaks;

·         The Stage One Heritage Lottery Fund application for the Bradbourne Lakes had been rejected by the HLF however further funding had been identified and would be spent on a project to be agreed with the residents’ association;

·         There was to be an article in “Parking Review” magazine reporting on SDC’s parking enforcement; and

·         The Council would be providing support to communities who wished to take part in the national “Clean for the Queen” campaign.

The Chairman asked Members of the Committee to consider which services they would like to  learn more about following their request at a previous meeting for more presentations on the various areas within the Direct and Trading Services Portfolio.  Members were asked to let the Chairman know of any areas of particular interest.

Resolved: The work plan was updated as follows:

·         12 April 2016             CCTV Joint Control Room

·         Summer 2016            Fly tipping Action Plan

·         Autumn 2016             Annual review of parking charges

Christmas parking

Budget:  Review of Service Dashboards and Service Change Impact Assessments (SSCIAs)