To consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets.

The Director of Environment and Corporate Assets presented the update report on the East Kent Waste 2021 project.

Members were advised that Folkestone and Hythe District Council wanted to continue working with Dover District Council in respect of the procurement and, following the completion of a detailed review, options were being considered for future development. One option that was being considered was whether to separate street cleaning from the contract and bring it in-house as there was a lot of synergy with the in-house grounds maintenance service.

RESOLVED: That the update be noted.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Health

It was agreed:

a)    That the same recycling and waste collection methodology as presently implemented across the District be continued when the new service arrangements start in 2021.  Food will be collected in a separate dedicated vehicle for the recycling round.

b)    That the procurement of the next recycling and waste collection contract be approved, with an outsourced service provider in partnership with Folkestone and Hythe District Council (FHDC), to be operational from the end of the current joint contract on 15 January 2021.

c)    That the Council will work with FHDC to complete an options appraisal exercise to consider the operational costs, risks and benefits of in-sourcing the street cleansing service.

d)    That the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Health, to negotiate and conclude with Kent County Council a new performance payment mechanism to operate from 2021 that takes into account the current level of payments and the need to incentivise in order to improve recycling rates.

(e)  That a project budget of £100,000 be established to cover additional consultancy support, notably preparation of the new contract specification, new contract and new partnership agreements.