Agenda and minutes

The Joint Executive Committee is asked to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 10 January 2020 (attached)

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 January 2020 were agreed as a true record.

No declarations of interest were received.

Presentation

The Joint Executive Committee received a presentation on ‘Future Proofing’ Your Waste Collection Services: WRAP Support to STWWMP, from Mike Gardner of WRAP.

RESOLVED -  That the Joint Executive Committee noted the contents of the report

Report attached

The Joint Committee received a report on the current position regarding the Residual Waste Treatment Contract and other ancillary waste and recycling contracts managed by the South Tyne and Wear Waste Management Partnership (STWWMP).

The Joint Partnership Team continues to undertake several waste management  functions on behalf of the partner authorities, including reviewing and verifying monthly contract reports, which detail materials processed and service issues. Once approved, invoices are processed and, where appropriate, apportioned between partner authorities within contractual timescales.

This is enabling, amongst other things, a proactive and timely approach to management of the RWTC which is operated under strict timescales. Similar benefits are also afforded to the procurement and management of other ancillary contracts, such as MRF, HWRC, and green waste composting.

Appendix A which was appended to the main report highlighted the latest 2019/20 contract year performance. During recent months, service availability  has continued to be strong with plant availability 99.31% and turbine availability 99.04%.

The Joint Committee were also advised that the exercise to replace the Debt Service Reserve Account (DSRA) with a contingent Debt Service Reserve Facility (DSRF) is still progressing and hopes to be finalised within this financial year.

The Joint Committee were advised that the joint insurance cost reports are provided by STWER every two years which set out the mechanism for the insurance review procedure and sharing insurance cost differentials. The report illustrate the state of the insurance market during the term and any resulting increase of benefit from relevant insurance costs are shared between STWER and STWWMP.

The Joint Committee were advised that the third JICR has now been submitted by Willis Towers Watson and reviewed by STWWMP, with some issues raised for action. Initial indicators are that due to movements in the insurance market in relation to our technology the position is not as good as it has been previously.

The Joint Committee were also advised that all three of the WTS have continued to remain available and are accepting STWWMP contract waste without significant issues. Recycling activities are ongoing at each site, which includes the segregation of materials, such as street sweepings, wood and scrap metals.

Routine maintenance of buildings, plant and control systems continue to be delivered as planned and no issues have been identified.

The Environment Agency visited the Jack Crawford House WTS on 12 December 2019. No issues were raised during the visit.

The Joint Committee were advised that the RWTC affords provision for Suez to help to improve local prosperity across the partnership area by promoting  vacant posts within their facilities. Local vacancies are circulated to partner authorities economic development services for circulation to their client bases. Vacancies are also highlighted at the Jack Crawford House and Campground Community Liaison Groups to enable opportunities to be circulated across community contacts.

The Joint Committee were advised that currently, Suez are in the process of recruiting some posts at the EfW facility.

STWWMP remains committed to an ongoing programme of community education and engagement managed by Groundwork  ...  view the full minutes text for item 82.

Presentation

A presentation was given to the Joint Executive Committee on National and Local Authority stories that have been in the media.

National Waste News

The Joint Executive Committee were advised that in February, as part of the Prime Minister’s cabinet reshuffle, George Eustace MP was named as the new Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Mr Eustace was previously a member of the Environment, food and Rural Affairs select committee.

Rebecca Pow was reappointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary, and Victoria Prentis was also appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at Defra.

Committee will recall that Defra introduced the Environment Bill in October 2019, which aims to ensure that the UK maintains and improves its environmental protections as the UK leaves the EU. The progress was stopped when the general election was called.

The Bill was subsequently re-introduced on 30 January this year – and has now had two readings in the House of Commons.

The Bill sets out four priority areas, namely: air quality; water; biodiversity; and resource efficiency and waste reduction. The main areas of interest to local authority  waste services relate to the establishment of the Office for Environmental Protection, which will advise Government on environmental issues and scrutinise their progress against environmental plans and targets and some clarification on the Extended Producer Responsibility obligations.

The Bill provides the powers and legal framework for the implementation of a deposit  return scheme, should the Government decide that they wish to proceed, which seems likely.

It also covers the collection consistency requirements that state food waste will be collected separately and at least weekly.

The Bill has now passed on to the Committee Stage where each clause or part thereof can be debated further to any amendments and proposals for change submitted. The Joint Committee noted that, as it stands, the Bill is still short on any detail for many proposals raised within the resources & waste strategy.

The Joint Executive Committee were advised that waste management firm Veolia have had their say in how the public are disposing household batteries. Veolia say that the incorrect disposal of batteries mean that fires can occur in the back of the collection vehicles and at waste facilities.

Fires in waste vehicles are up by 37.5% since 2017, and recycling and waste plants are also suffering more than 300 fires a year. Futhermore, if batteries are disposed properly, there would also be environmental benefits by returning valuable resources back into use.

Within STWWMP, the safe disposal of batteries is an important part of how waste electrical and electronic equipment disposal is managed, and the Joint Executive Committee noted that all residents are encouraged to remove batteries from small WEEE disposed at out HWRCs.

The Joint Executive Committee were informed that there has been a surge in bin sleeping nationally and it was reported that more than a third of waste companies have discovered people sleeping in their bins in the last 12 months. A campaign by waste management  ...  view the full minutes text for item 83.

The next meeting of the Joint Executive will be held on Friday 12 June 2020 at 1.30 pm

The next meeting of the Joint Executive Committee will be held on Friday 12 June 2020 at 1.30 pm