Agenda item

Report by the Director of Environment and Public Protection.

The Committee is asked to preview the draft decision to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, to permanently adopt the pilot scheme in operation since 2021, and retain the option to extend it to further sites should they be subject to congestion issues in the future.

54.1     The Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, Cllr Urquhart, introduced the item, giving some background on the trial that had been brought in during March 2021, due to concerns about congestion over the Christmas period, prior to the usual spring surge in usage usually seen at recycling centres.

54.2     The trial booking system allowed residents to book online up to 14 days in advance with call facilities available at the County Council’s contact centre.  Initially residents were allowed to book one slot a week but that had been increased to 5 slots a month.  Data showed that 98% of bookings were made online with 2% via the contact centre.  A consultation with users had been run in November 2021, by directly contacting online bookers, using flyers, social media and the press. The response rate had been very high and very positive for continuing the booking system.  As an outcome of the consultation, from 1 March 2022 a trial had been set up at Worthing recycling centre, offering same day booking up to five minutes before a booking time, assuming availability.  Any cancelled bookings would be freed up for use on the day.

54.3     Members of the Committee then asked questions and a summary of those questions and answers follows:

·       Previous usage patterns at recycling sites showed people came often with small amounts of waste.  The booking scheme encouraged the processing of more waste, less often. Residents were also encouraged to use their kerbside recycling where they could.  There was sufficient capacity across the recycling sites and the booking system had helped spread demand across the day rather than it being focussed on some peak times.  The configuration of sites would also be reviewed to make any improvements. 

·       The percentage of bookings not used varied due to season, weather and site, which was why booking on the day would be a more flexible option.  There had been some migration of visits from sites which had introduced the booking system to those without.  Data on visits would be reviewed.

·       The Cabinet Member reported that whilst there may have been an increase in fly-tipping incidents since the introduction of the booking system, the volume of waste had not increased.  Fly-tipping generally tended to be commercial waste from un-reputable traders or people who did not engage with the booking system.  The Cabinet Member reported that the district and borough councils in West Sussex were increasing resources to run a new scheme called “Let’s scrap fly-tipping”, along with Sussex Police, to monitor and enforce rules to reduce fly-tipping rates. Members would be kept informed on how the scheme was progressing. The pandemic had seen a large rise in the use of skips for waste removal, a trend which may continue.  Lobbying of Government would continue on waste crime in general.

·       There were no reductions in staffing levels through the new system, although some sites were running with vacancies due to recruitment difficulties and long-term sickness. 

·       Despite requests from some Committee Members, for there to be a public consultation on sites recommended to move to a booking system, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, Cllr Urquhart, report that public consultation was not always possible if changes were needed to be made quickly.  However, Cllr Urquhart undertook to ensure that local Members were updated on any proposed changes at recycling sites in their area.  Some smaller sites would not have the booking systems introduced.

54.4     Resolved – That the Committee:

1.   Favoured having a flexible system, with some sites having the booking system, and others not.

2.   Noted that some members felt the booking system was only required because of a reduction in opening hours.

3.   Was concerned about fly-tipping around the County, and wanted efforts to tackle it to be strengthened.

4.   Welcomed that the numbers of available bins and slots have increased, now that covid-related restrictions have been lifted.

5.   Welcomed the roll-out in Worthing of the same-day booking system, and looks forward to this being introduced more widely as soon as possible.

6.   Welcomed that the system is flexible enough to allow residents to access sites numerous times in a day, if a need can be demonstrated.

7.   Acknowledged that the booking system has significantly reduced congestion at several sites, to the benefit of local residents and businesses.

54.5     The Committee voted on the recommendations in the draft decision report:

·       On Recommendation 1 (That the pilot booking system is made permanent at the Bognor Regis, Crawley, Horsham, Littlehampton, Shoreham and Worthing Recycling Centres) the Committee voted in favour of the recommendation, by a majority of votes.

·       On Recommendation 2 ((That there be) Delegation of authority to the Director of Environment and Public Protection, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, to extend the booking system on a site-by-site basis to Billingshurst, Burgess Hill, East Grinstead, Midhurst and/or Westhampnett Recycling Centres, on a temporary or permanent basis should this be needed to manage congestion or other issues in the future) the Committee voted by a majority of votes that the word “permanent” be removed from the last sentence.