Issue - meetings

The Cabinet considered recommendations made by the Scrutiny Steering Board based on the report of the Task Group set up to scrutinise issues relating to Refuse and Recycling. The Leader welcomed the Chairman of the Task Group, Councillor C. R. Scurrell to the meeting. Councillor Scurrell briefly introduced the report and highlighted some key points. He also thanked all officers and members who had contributed to the scrutiny process. 

There was detailed discussion on the recommendations contained within the report and on some general principles in relation to the production of Task Group reports. There was also discussion on some additional work which it was hoped that the Task Group would be willing to undertake. The report was welcomed as a very good report and the Leader thanked Councillor Scurrell and the Task Group members together with the officers for their hard work.

RESOLVED:

(a)       that in relation to Recommendation 1 (NVQ Training for the Existing Workforce), NVQ Training in Waste Management from the Waste Management Industry Training Advisory Board via NEW College be given to all refuse and recycling staff over a two year period commencing in September 2008 with the following conditions:

• Standards for “performance criteria” and “knowledge requirements” specific to this Council be built into the awards;
• The preferred primary assessment method being observation (rather than witness testimonies or personal statements);and
• Performance criteria being observed consistently over a certain time period rather than as a one-off;

(b)       that in relation to Recommendation 2 (NVQ Training for New Employees), it be made a requirement for all new employees to either hold the NVQ in Waste Management or to achieve it within an agreed timeframe;

(c)        that in relation to Recommendation 3 (NVQ Training for Team Leaders), the following NVQ training be given to the three Refuse and Recycling Team Leaders

• Team Leading in Refuse and Recycling via NEW College
• Business Improvement Techniques via Resource Development International               

(It was understood that items (a), (b) and (c) above would be referred to the Head of Human Resources and the Portfolio Holder for Street Scene and Waste Management for discussions on how the training could be best included in the Training Plan)

(d)       that in relation to Recommendation 4 (Commingled Recycling Service), the Street Scene and Waste Management officers be requested to monitor the progress which Worcestershire County Council is making in relation to building their own sorting plant by 2009, as this will enable a commingled recycling service to be launched (making it easier to recycle and likely to encourage more recycling) and therefore significantly improve this Council’s recycling rates;  

(e)       that in relation to Recommendation 5 (Recycling Additional Materials), Street Scene and Waste Management officers be requested to continue to encourage Worcestershire County Council Officers to investigate recycling more materials through the Waste Management Forum);

(f)         that in relation to Recommendation 6 (Benchmarking), Street Scene and Waste Management officers be requested to continue to regularly and systematically benchmark against the top 10-15 local authorities in the recycling league table  ...  view the full minutes text for item 166