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Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Committee Suite - County Hall

Contact: Fred Whitehouse, 01392 381362  Email: fred.whitehouse@devon.gov.uk

Note: Due to Covid restrictions and social distancing measures, members of the press and public must contact the Clerk to book a place should they wish to attend this meeting in person. 

Items
Note No. Item

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1.

Election of Chair and Vice-Chair

In accordance with the agreed protocol the Chair shall be a District Council appointee with the Vice-Chair being a County Council or Torbay Council appointee (both with Executive responsibility for waste management).

 

Decision:

RESOLVED that Councillor Jung and Councillor Croad be elected Chair and Vice-Chair respectively for the ensuing year.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that Councillor Jung and Councillor Croad be elected Chair and Vice-Chair respectively for the ensuing year.

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2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 283 KB

Minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2020, attached

Decision:

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2020 be signed as a correct record.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2020 be signed as a correct record.

 

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3.

Items Requiring Urgent Attention

Items which in the opinion of the Chairman should be considered at the meeting as matters of urgency.

Minutes:

There was no item raised as a matter of urgency.

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4.

Terms of Reference pdf icon PDF 92 KB

The operating rules and Terms of Reference for the Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee are attached, for information.

Minutes:

The Committee noted its operating rules and Terms of Reference.

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5.

Budget 2021/22 Position Statement pdf icon PDF 606 KB

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/21/29)

 

Decision:

RESOLVED that

 

a)    the 2020-21 final out-turn be noted; and

 

b)    the decision taken by the previous Vice-Chair of this Committee in approving the carry forward budget be noted and the proposals for spending the carry over and maintaining a contingency in paragraphs 3 and 5 be approved.

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/21/29) which summarised the final out-turn for the 2020/21 budget and requested approval for how the carry-over would be spent.

 

The Report highlighted underspend across numerous budget lines, with each having underspent for reasons that related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The most significant underspend was that of the Reuse shops, which were closed for the majority of the 2020/21 year, with their underspend totalling £40,058. The total underspend across all budget lines was £65,151.

 

The Report proposed that the underspend of the Reuse shops was reallocated to boost their reduced 2021/22 budget to promote recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. It was proposed that the combined underspend of the Don’t let Devon go to waste fund and the Waste and Advisors Recycling contract (£21,235) be carried forward to develop a countywide Waste Prevention Pack for people moving house. It was proposed that the remainder be used to support the Clean Devon partnership.

 

Members’ discussion points with officers included:

 

·         concern that the £65,151 proposed to be allocated to Reuse shops could be spent better elsewhere because funding for Reuse shops would stop at the end of the financial year;

 

·         the particulars of the Waste Prevention Pack including suggestions that adjustments would need to be made to the leaflets for Devon’s varying districts; and

 

·         the importance of focusing on all ‘transient’ populations (including people moving into new houses and students) under this scheme in order to further reduce waste.

 

The Committee requested that more detail about the Waste Prevention Pack Pilot be brought to the next meeting.

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Croad, SECONDED by Councillor Dewhirst, and

 

RESOLVED that

 

a)    the 2020-21 final out-turn be noted; and

 

b)    the decision taken by the previous Vice-Chair of this Committee in approving the carry forward budget be noted and the proposals for spending the carry over and maintaining a contingency in paragraphs 3 and 5 be approved.

 

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6.

Government Consultation Responses pdf icon PDF 557 KB

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/21/30)

 

Minutes:

The Committee received the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/21/30) which summarised the responses given to the Government consultations on the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (EPR) and a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), which closed on 4th June 2021. The report also highlighted key aspects of the Government consultation on Consistency which would close on 4th July 2021.

 

Appendix I to the Report outlined the response from Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee to the consultation regarding the EPR which would make the producers of packaging responsible for meeting the full net cost of the packaging they placed onto the market. In the response, Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee broadly welcomed the proposals.

 

Appendix II to the Report outlined the response from Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee to the consultation on the DRS which would involve a producer paying an up-front deposit on an item at the point of purchase to be redeemed on the return of this item at a designated return point. In the response, Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee raised concerns around various aspects of the proposal and suggested it be pushed back.

 

The Consistency in Household and Business Recycling in England set out proposals for consistency in recycling. The response of Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee was being drafted to be shared with Members at a later date after the Government consultation had closed.

 

Members’ discussion points included:

 

·         the potential implications for rural areas should a Deposit Return Scheme be introduced, namely the lack of suitable areas for a Reverse Vending Machine; and

 

·         the financial risk to businesses already struggling in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Jung, SECONDED by Councillor Dewhirst and

 

RESOLVED that

 

a)    the responses submitted to the Government consultations on the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging (EPR) and a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) be noted; and

 

b)    the key points in the consultation on Consistency in Household and Business Recycling in England (Consistency) be noted.

 

the Committee expressed their gratitude for the Officers’ work.

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7.

Resource and Waste Management Strategy for Devon and Torbay pdf icon PDF 524 KB

Decision:

RESOLVED that

 

a)    the results of the public consultation be noted;

 

b)    the proposed reduction to the waste prevention target to 400kg/head/year by 2030 be agreed; and

 

c)    the Strategy be endorsed and recommended for final approval to the Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee (DASWC) partner authorities.

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/21/31) which summarised the consultation response to the draft Resource and Waste Management Strategy for Devon and Torbay and proposed amendments for inclusion in the final strategy.

 

The response summary and Appendix I to the report highlighted general support for the proposals which had been developed with Government proposals in mind. Areas of particular concern included: working with businesses, manufacturers, retailers and government to reduce packaging waste; caution surrounding the cost and carbon impact of electric vehicles; and ensuring adequate focus on education and community engagement. The Report provided responses to these concerns.

 

Members’ discussion points included:

 

·         concern that the proposed target of waste collected of 400kg per head per year includes Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) which increases the average, and a resulting wish for Members to see whether a target for the districts alone would be appropriate;

 

·         concern around the lack of empirical evidence surrounding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on amount of waste produced and collected and a need to potentially revisit targets when such evidence is available; and

 

·         the importance of undertaking community engagement and education aimed at reducing waste production, and work currently being done on this subject.

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Croad, SECONDED by Councillor Pearson and

 

RESOLVED that

 

a)    the results of the public consultation be noted;

 

b)    the proposed reduction to the waste prevention target to 400kg/head/year by 2030 be agreed; and

 

c)    the Strategy be endorsed and recommended for final approval to the Devon Authorities Strategic Waste Committee (DASWC) partner authorities.

 

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8.

Waste Prevention and Reuse Strategy Action Plan for 2021/22

Presentation by Senior Specialist (Waste), South Hams District Council / West Devon Borough Council

 

Minutes:

The Committee received a presentation by the Senior Specialist (Waste), South Hams District Council / West Devon Borough Council on the Waste Prevention and Reuse Strategy Action Plan for 2021/22.

 

The presentation highlighted several proposals and their respective aims that covered a large spectrum of waste materials aimed at waste reduction. These included: proposals to promote the use of Repair Cafes and HWRCs; ensuring consistent messaging surrounding the use of any type of bag for  food waste bins; and various proposals on the reduction of single-use plastic.

 

The Chair offered his thanks for the presentation.


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