The Council of Sutton Council met on Monday 28 January 2019 to discuss a range of issues, including the performance of the Veolia waste collection contract, the council's vehicle fleet, and parking policies. Questions were raised regarding the effectiveness of the Veolia contract, the composition of the council's vehicle fleet, and the consultation process and impact assessments related to parking policies.

Veolia Waste Collection Contract

Councillor Neil Garratt questioned Councillor Manuel Abellan, Chair of the Environment & Neighbourhoods Committee, about the quality of service provided by the Veolia contract for household waste collection, street sweeping, and litter bin emptying. Councillor Abellan stated that while the contract has brought significant financial benefits and improved recycling rates, the service did not start well, with residents experiencing difficulties regarding container capacity and collection frequencies. He acknowledged that ongoing work is needed, particularly for flats, and that council officers are collaborating with Veolia to enhance service reliability and ensure scheduled collections are met. Regarding street cleaning, Councillor Abellan confirmed that Veolia is required to maintain streets to a standard prescribed by the Environmental Protection Act, the same standard previously upheld by the council. Inspections in 2018 showed 73% of inspected areas met or exceeded the required standard for litter, though further improvement is sought.

Council Vehicle Fleet

Councillor Elliott Colburn enquired about the number and types of vehicles owned by the London Borough of Sutton, excluding contractor vehicles. Councillor Abellan responded that the council currently owns two vehicles: a Kubota Mini Tractor Biodiversity Diesel and a Ford Transit Van owned by Cognus but registered to Sutton Council. The Ford Transit is being transferred to Cognus ownership, and there are no current plans to upgrade the mini tractor to electric.

Parking Policy and Consultations

Councillor Catherine Gray raised concerns about the Sutton Christian Centre, located at 25 Tate Road, Sutton, SM1 2SY, not being consulted during the initial phases of the parking consultation. Councillor Abellan stated that officers had checked the consultation lists and confirmed the Sutton Christian Centre was included in the mailings. Councillor Gray also requested data for roads grouped under 'other' in the Parking Survey Local Area reports. Councillor Abellan explained that this data pertains to streets outside the specific local committee area where residents participated in the broader consultation, and this information is available in other local area reports on the council website.

Councillor Tim Crowley sought equality and impact assessments conducted prior to the parking policy's adoption in 2016, specifically concerning individual householders, van drivers, and the economic impact on local residents. He also requested any updated assessments carried out since 2016. Councillor Abellan provided a link to the relevant impact assessment and stated that further assessments would be conducted as scheme proposals are developed. In response to a further question from Councillor Crowley regarding the number of N1 van drivers affected by the new terms and conditions introduced in November 2017, Councillor Abellan clarified that since the introduction of these terms, 10 applications have been refused where the vehicle was a company vehicle (N1) not registered to an address within the existing zone. He noted that the terms do not restrict all N1 vehicles but specifically those not registered in Sutton and only during controlled hours, with council officers using the Eligibility Requirements and Terms and Conditions when assessing applications.