Issue - meetings

To consider a report from the Director for Communities, a copy is attached as item 5.

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Communities, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 5.

The report briefed Members on the proposed, and recommended, product build and launch of a new Commercial Food Waste (CFW) collection service for Adur and Worthing businesses.

Authority was sought to proceed with the proposals and delegate authority, where appropriate, to the Director for Communities to procure equipment and tender for contracts, where required, to operate the service.

During discussion of the item, Members sought clarification regarding whether the proposed scheme would lead to a residential food waste collection service, whether 1 vehicle would be sufficient, whether the Councils would look to generate an income stream from the fuel that was created through anaerobic digestion and whether this was the best time to launch the service.

It was noted that the proposed scheme was separate to residential food waste collections, it was for business food waste collections only. The scheme would enable the Councils to learn more about the collection of food waste, however, it was noted that the volumes involved with a residential food waste collection service would necessitate West Sussex County Council taking the lead as it would not be a revenue generating scheme like the one proposed. The Committee was informed that the number of customers would ultimately determine the number of vehicles required to deliver the service. It was proposed that 1 food waste collection vehicle be purchased initially and this would be reviewed dependent on the success of the scheme. Members were informed that Councils had been in talks with compressed natural gas providers for a closed loop of an anaerobic digester and would be looking to do something along those lines in years 2 and 3 of the scheme.

In regards to the timing of the launch, it was noted that by launching now, the costs for some customers would be reduced, equally the Councils could take on more contracts from people who had been less well served elsewhere. It was noted that there were competitors out there who had not been thriving as a result of the pandemic and it was possible that the Councils could provide a better service to those customers. Whilst there was the potential for a small loss from the proposals, it was based on moving existing customers onto the proposed food waste collection. If the service took on 10 additional bins, from new customers, the Councils would be looking at making a surplus.

Members sought clarification regarding the expenditure split proposed whilst acknowledging that the proposals opened significant opportunities for the Councils and would hopefully improve sustainability. 

The proposals were unanimously supported by the Committee. 

Decision: 

The Joint Strategic Committee

delegated authority to the Director for Communities to procure for, and purchase, a waste food collection vehicle;

delegated authority to the Director for Communities to procure a food waste disposal agent,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55