The agenda for the upcoming Bolsover District Council meeting includes discussion of food waste collections, appointments to committees, and a review of gambling regulations. There will also be an update on local government reorganisation and a presentation on arts funding. Members will also consider motions relating to political proportionality on scrutiny committees and the whistleblowing policy.

Weekly Food Waste Collection Service

The council is scheduled to discuss a report about the introduction of a weekly food waste collection service, which is set to become a statutory duty from 1 April 2026.

The council will need to collect food waste separately from general waste, dry mixed recycling, and garden waste. The council has already received £699,908 in capital funding from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) for the purchase of food waste containers and collection vehicles. The Streetscene (Waste) Services Team has determined that they need seven vehicles to operate the service, and the council has approved an additional £321,500 in capital funding to meet the shortfall.

The report also mentions that Defra has awarded the council £265,077.21 as a revenue transitional resource grant for the implementation of weekly food waste collection. The money is earmarked for container delivery, project management, procurement, and communications.

The report states that the council will need 20 staff to operate the new service: 13 porters and 7 drivers, working in six teams of three, plus cover for annual leave and sickness. It is intended that delivery of food waste caddy bins to all district households will begin in mid-January 2026. The report says that approval will be sought to recruit 10 of the required staff from mid-January 2026 at a cost of £164,500 for the period.

The report also refers to the government's Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme, which requires retailers and packaging producers to meet the cost of collection and disposal of their packaging. The council expects to receive £693,860.67 from the EPR scheme in 2025/26.

The report recommends that the council:

• approves the establishment of 10 new full-time, permanent grade 4 positions to undertake the new weekly food waste collection service
• approves a budget of £164,500 for 2025/26 to meet the cost of employing the 10 staff to deliver food waste collection caddies and undertake training
• approves the update to the Waste and Recycling Collection Policy to reflect the inclusion of a separate weekly food waste collection service
• delegates the decision to approve the establishment of 10 additional full-time permanent positions (3 porters and 7 drivers) to undertake the weekly food collection service to the Chief Executive Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for the Environment.

The updated Waste and Recycling Collection Policy, included as an appendix to the report, states that compostable liners may be used in the brown caddy bins, but they must be labelled for commercial or industrial composting and meet EN 13432 standards.

Proportionality and Appointments to Committees and Advisory Groups

Councillor Donna Hales, Deputy Leader & Portfolio Holder for Corporate Governance, has prepared a report on proportionality and appointments to committees and advisory groups. The report notes that Councillor Ross Walker changed political parties at the end of August 2025, and as a result, the political makeup of the council is now:

• Labour: 22 councillors
• Independent Group: 11 councillors
• Conservative: 2 councillors
• Reform: 1 councillor
• Independent: 1 councillor

The report states that committees are subject to the political balance requirements of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. The report recommends changes to the allocation of committee seats to ensure that the council meets the requirements of the act.

The report recommends that Council:

• agrees to the proportionality of committee places as set out in Appendix 1 of the report
• agrees to the appointments to committees and advisory groups as set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

The report notes that Councillor Walker has agreed to give up his positions on the Union/Employee Consultation Committee and the Climate Change and Communities Scrutiny Committee.

Review of the Council's Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005

The council is scheduled to discuss a report from Councillor Rob Hiney-Saunders, Portfolio Holder for the Environment, regarding a review of the council's Statement of Principles under the Gambling Act 2005.

The Gambling Act 2005 requires the council to prepare a Statement of Principles, which is its tool for regulating gambling in the district. The statement sets out the council's expectations for how operators should behave and ensures that the general public and responsible authorities are aware of how the council approaches gambling regulation.

The report notes that the Joint Environmental Health Service conducted an initial review of the policy and the Local Area Profile (LAP) and identified a number of minor amendments necessary to bring the policy up to date with the Gambling Commission's Guidance to Licensing Authorities (GLA) and local demographics.

Following consideration of a draft policy and LAP through the Licensing and Gambling Acts Committee, a 12-week public consultation was held. The report notes that only two responses were received and that the changes to the policy and LAP were largely to bring them in line with local demographics.

The report recommends that the council:

• approves the recommendation from the Licensing and Gambling Act Committee that the final draft Gambling Act 2005: Statement of Principles and Local Area Profile be adopted to take effect on 23 February 2026
• requires the Joint Assistant Director – Environmental Health to follow the formal process to adopt the final draft Gambling Act 2005: Statement of Principles and Local Area Profile.

Appointment of Independent Persons

The council is scheduled to discuss a report from Jim Fieldsend, Director of Governance and Legal Services & Monitoring Officer, regarding the appointment of two additional independent persons.

The Localism Act 2011 places a duty on the council to promote and maintain high standards of conduct for elected and co-opted members. This includes a requirement for the council to have a code of conduct and arrangements in place to deal with complaints regarding breaches of the code. The act also requires the council to appoint at least one independent person to help with any such complaints.

The report notes that one of the council's two independent persons submitted his notice, and his term ended on 30 September. A recruitment exercise has been carried out, and the Monitoring Officer is recommending that Melvin Kenyon and Alistair Davies be appointed as independent persons.

The report recommends that the council appoints Melvin Kenyon and Alistair Davies as independent persons.

Scrutiny Annual Report 2024/25

The council is scheduled to receive the Overview & Scrutiny Annual Report 2024/25. The report provides an overview of the work programme of the scrutiny committees during 2024/25.

The report notes that during 2024/25, the scrutiny committees focused their review work on issues of real importance to the communities, including security arrangements at The Arc and the council's approach to environmental despoilment.

The report also provides an update on the implementation of review recommendations from 2023/24.

Motions

Councillor Janet Tait has submitted a motion to consider changing the constitution regarding political proportionality on scrutiny committees. The motion argues that the current system, where the controlling party has a majority on all scrutiny committees, is like marking your own homework . The motion proposes a more balanced approach, with committees made up of members with relevant experience and broader opinions.

Councillor Anne Clarke has submitted a motion that the whistleblowing policy should be updated immediately and the correct procedures followed to ensure that staff who are raising concerns are supported appropriately and protected throughout the whistleblowing process. The motion argues that the current policy is outdated and that employees do not feel confident in reporting their concerns.

Local Government Reorganisation - Update

The council is scheduled to receive an update on local government reorganisation.

Arts for Everyone - Presentation

The council is scheduled to receive a presentation on arts for everyone.

Severn Trent Water Drop-in Session

After the meeting, Severn Trent Water (STW) will host a drop-in session in the Council Chamber to provide further information on a proposed new water main. The associated works will take place between Hathersage and Worksop to install a new 17km main, with the proposed route of these works principally affecting the northern district wards of Barlborough, Clowne East, Whitwell, and Elmton with Creswell.