Agenda item

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/75) and appendices, attached.

RESOLVED that

(a) the carry forward of £8,013 for Clean Devon be agreed;

(b) the proposal to not extend the Waste and Recycling Advisors (WRA) for a further year be approved; and

(c) the proposed projects for 2025/26 be approved.

The Committee considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/75) which detailed the budget position for the financial year and proposals for the 2025/26 budget. Appendices I and II to the report included details on the proposals pertaining to Don’t Let Devon Go to Waste (DLDGTW) scheme, and the Waste and Recycling Advisors (WRA) contract, respectively. Appendix III set out a top slice allocation used to fund the budget proposals.

Members heard that approximately 1,600 people had requested free food caddies and/or recipe books off the back of a food waste project previously agreed to be funded by the committee, supplemented by some other funds.

Attention was drawn to work undertaken to educate the public on correctly recycling electricals and batteries, and a Recycle Devon community group map.

Members also heard that there was consideration being had on providing all authorities with CCTV, paid for by Clean Devon funds, with reference to fly-tipping, although the challenges around ensuring there is agreement by elected members within each local authority, and adequate planning in relation to IT and data protection, were referred to.

For 2025/26, an allocation of £41,000 was proposed for Don’t Let Devon Go to Waste. £123,000 was proposed for a multi-faceted programme to educate and inform the public on food waste to try and change behaviour. A draft breakdown of this allocation was included in the report, with the intent being to develop said proposals further to be presented on at the February 2025 meeting of the Committee. Finally, £27,000 was proposed for Clean Devon.

Key discussion points included:

·     That Appendix III did not include details of how the figures were worked out, which would be useful for members;

·    That the next waste analysis would take place in 2027, and to do so earlier – or more regularly – would not represent an efficient use of funding;

·    Some member support for camera surveillance regarding fly-tipping. However, the requirement to warn the public of the camera presence was discussed, and whether that would discourage fly-tippers or simply encourage them to fly-tip in a different location. There was discussion on whether there was therefore a justification for alternative means of trying to identify fly-tippers, such as by inspecting waste that has been dumped for clues such as letters addressed to that person;

·    The rationale behind the £123,000 allocation for a focus on food waste, with it being suggested that there was not sufficient evidence of individual outreach such as that done under the WRA contract being a successful and effective way of promoting behavioural change. The 5p plastic bag tax was referred to as an incredibly successful programme of promoting individual change. Officers noted both that the success of individual outreach of this sort could be hard to measure, and that authorities do not have legislative control to implement something like a 5p plastic bag tax.

The report was noted.

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

RESOLVED that

(a) the carry forward of £8,013 for Clean Devon be agreed;

(b) the proposal to not extend the Waste and Recycling Advisors (WRA) for a further year be approved; and

(c) the proposed projects for 2025/26 be approved.