Purpose

The Council successfully introduced an initiative on the 1st of April this year to allow local households one free bulky waste collection per annum, up to the value of 100 points. To improve this offer further, the Council is proposing to develop a new online access system twinned with additional customer service resources and supplementary collection teams for the remainder of this financial year. We will review the progress of these enhancements throughout the year to determine what additional resources will be needed for the forthcoming financial year

Decision

RESOLVED:

1)    That that introduction of a newly developed online access system to facilitate a full end to end self-serve option be approved.

2)    That the deployment of two additional collection teams for a three-month period using agency drivers to ensure swift mobilisation be approved.

3)    That the subsequent deployment of a single collection team for the remainder of the financial year thereafter be approved.

4)    That the employment of three temporary staff members in the Customer Contact Centre for the remainder of the financial year be approved.

5)    That the addition of £188,970 to the 2026/27 revenue budget, funded from reserves, in respect of the costs related to the above recommendations be approved.

6)    That it be noted that the progress would be reviewed throughout the year with feedback provided to the Executive Member for Environment, the Director of Environment and Resident Services, and the Director of Finance.