Purpose

To replace the current non-chargeable
household garden waste collection service and provide a Garden
Waste Subscription Service that protects garden waste services for
those residents who wish to use it. The proposed service would
start from April 2024.
 
Currently the cost of garden waste collection
is distributed among all taxpayers, through funding diverted from
other services, regardless of their usage or benefit. By directly
charging for this service, a system where those who actively
utilise the service contribute to its funding will be
established.
 
Completely removing the service would result
in residents having to travel to local recycling centres at greater
financial and environmental cost, which some residents may prefer
to do rather than subscribing to the Garden Waste Subscription
Service.
 
The proposal for charging a subscription for
the service is driven by the financial requirement to maintain a
balanced budget and to set a sustainable Medium-Term Financial
Strategy (MTFS).
 
Huntingdonshire District Council already
operates a chargeable garden waste subscription collection service
that facilitates households paying for up to three additional
garden waste bins.

Decision

The Cabinet 
have
 
a) noted the risks associated with the
proposal, both financially and reputationally, that have been
highlighted within the report that may arise through emerging
national waste policies and guidance, and changes to Cambridgeshire
County Council’s Waste Private Finance Initiative (PFI)
Contract which require approval from the Department for
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
 
b) agreed to the introduction of a household
garden waste subscription service from 1st April 2024, as set out
within the service terms and conditions attached as Appendix 2 of
the report;
 
c) agreed to changes to the Waste Collection
Policies, relating to the introduction of the chargeable
subscription household garden waste service as set out in Appendix
2 of the report;
 
d) agreed that for 2024/25 the annual
collection charge be set at £57.50 per first bin and
authorise the Executive Councillor for Corporate and Shared
Services in consultation with the Managing Director to review and
confirm the currently proposed £30 for each additional bin to
the maximum of 4 bins;
 
e) agreed to use the revenue generated by the
chargeable subscription household garden waste service to fund the
start-up project costs including service redesign, temporary staff
resource, website redesign and implementation of associated IT
systems (as set out in the financial model Table 3);
 
f) agreed that the existing non-chargeable
household garden waste collection service will cease from 31 March
2024. Arrangements will be made during Q2 FY 2024/25 to collect any
bins from households that do not wish to subscribe and wish to
return them;
 
g) agreed to implement a robust communications
campaign and incentivisation scheme to encourage subscription
sign-ups and promote behaviour change for our residents in waste
minimisation; and
 
h) agreed to complete a review of the impact
of the introduction of a household waste subscription service on
lower income residents.