Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/21/56), together with the Resource and Waste Management Strategy for Devon and Torbay 2020 – 2030, attached.

An Impact Assessment has been prepared which has been circulated and is also available alongside this Report and on the Council’s website at:https://www.devon.gov.uk/impact/waste-management-strategy/.

(Councillor Dewhirst declared a personal interest in this matter by virtue of being the Executive Portfolio Holder for waste at Teignbridge District Council).

RESOLVED

(a) that the results of the public consultation be noted and the proposed amendment to reduce the waste prevention target to 400kg per head per year by 2030 be endorsed;

(b) that authority be delegated to the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities and Equality for making minor amendments to the Strategy; and

(c) that the Resource and Waste Management Strategy for Devon and Torbay be approved.

(Councillors Dewhirst and Hannaford attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

(Councillor Dewhirst declared a personal interest in this matter by virtue of being the Executive Portfolio Holder for waste at Teignbridge District Council).

The Cabinet considered Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/21/56), together with the Resource and Waste Management Strategy for Devon and Torbay 2020 – 2030. The Report had been circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Report summarised the consultation response to the draft Resource and Waste Management Strategy for Devon and Torbay and proposed an amendment for inclusion in the final strategy.

The draft Resource and Waste Management Strategy for Devon and Torbay had been published for consultation on 3 March 2021 for a 6-week public consultation. 214 responses had been received and summarised Summary of responses, with detailed responses at Appendix 1. 

The Report also outlined recent Government consultations which had impacted on the contents of the Strategy and, as such, had been developed with the Government’s proposals in mind. However, it was noted that until the final proposals had been confirmed with draft legislation it was not possible to know how legislation might impact on the Strategy and that a review might be required.

The majority of respondents had been supportive of the proposals in the Strategy, so no significant amendments were proposed.  However, the major areas of concern included:

• to stretch proposed targets for reducing, reusing and recycling;
• working with businesses, manufacturers, retailers and government to reduce packaging waste (particularly plastic waste) throughout the supply chain;
• to be cautious about electric vehicles in terms of their cost and carbon impacts;
• focus on economic, efficient and carbon friendly solutions;
• focus on education and community engagement; and
• to promote further reuse and repair in the community and at Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs).

Some respondents had been keen to stretch the proposed targets for reducing, reusing and recycling, yet it was considered that the targets were already ambitious. As an example, recycling targets were in-line with the EU Circular Economy Package, the reuse target was limited to that achievable at the HWRCs and the food waste reduction target was in line with the Courtauld agreement target. However, the waste prevention target of waste collected per head per year by 2030 of 416kg could be reduced further and it was proposed that this target be reduced to 400kg per head per year by 2030.

The Cabinet noted that community engagement, education and promoting reuse and repair were all fundamental elements of the Strategy and would continue to be supported by all Devon Authorities and Torbay. Its objectives were all aimed at reducing waste, reducing the carbon impact of managing waste and conserving natural resources.  Other DASWC authorities were being asked to approve the Strategy at their next appropriate Committee after which the Strategy would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36