The following petition containing in excess of 1,500 signatures, which is the threshold to trigger a debate at Council, was submitted at the Council meeting held on 21 September 2023:
‘We call on Wokingham Borough Council Liberal Democrat Group to reverse their reductions to litter bin provision across the Borough. Their proposed changes would reduce the number of bins available and empty them less frequently. Litter bins in the Borough are already overflowing and the impact of these reductions would not lead to a cleaner and greener environment.’
Statement from the Chief Finance Officer:
The direct financial implications associated with this motion is a cost of £80k per annum.
The Chief Finance Officer comments are purely an assessment of the Financial Implications associated with the Motion as written and are not an opinion on the policy direction or intention contained within them.
Minutes:
In accordance with the Constitution, the Council considered a petition, with over 1,500 signatures, relating to the reduction of litter bins in the Borough.
The petition stated:
‘We call on Wokingham Borough Council Liberal Democrat Group to reverse their reductions to litter bin provision across the Borough. Their proposed changes would reduce the number of bins available and empty them less frequently. Litter bins in the Borough are already overflowing and the impact of these reductions would not lead to a cleaner and greener environment.’
Councillor Pauline Jorgensen presented the petition. She thanked Councillor Norman Jorgensen for putting forward Motion 506 which asked for a rethink on the removal of litter bins in the Borough. She felt that his recommendations had had some impact. A consultation had now been held to seek residents’ views and a report taken to Overview and Scrutiny outlining the results of the consultation and the resultant possible decisions, including costs of individual changes. Councillor Pauline Jorgensen questioned why these had not happened earlier.
Councillor Pauline Jorgensen stated that in July, Liberal Democrat Executive Members had tried to drive through reductions to key public services, via press release without the correct decision-making process, a business case or any scrutiny being carried out. Approximately 2,000 residents had signed the petition asking that the Executive reconsider. She went on to give examples of the impact of the initial implementation. In July, many bins had been covered and bin collections scaled back. Residents had reported overflowing bins and bad odours. Councillor Pauline Jorgensen was of the view that reducing the number of bins and bin collection would lead to increased littering and increased cleaning costs. Residents expected clean public spaces. She commented that the majority of bins scheduled for removal were in Woodley and Earley.
In the ensuing debate, Members made the following points:
Councillor Andrew Mickleburgh was of the view that petitions were a valuable mode of civic engagement and thanked all those who had signed the petition to give their views.
Councillor Laura Blumenthal referred to bins in her ward that had been scheduled to be removed – in a shopping parade and on busy roads. Residents had been shocked when bins had been made unavailable. She felt that there was a pattern of decisions being made and then consultation following afterwards. Councillor Laura Blumental referred to the Council’s Vision of being cleaner and greener, and its desire to support biodiversity. She felt that the removal of litter bins did not support this.
Councillor Andy Croy commented that the ward most impacted by bin removal would be Winnersh and not Woodley and Earley. On 2 October the Corporate and Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee had looked at the budget saving proposals around street cleaning and ground maintenance. Twelve had been forwarded on to the Executive and the Committee had agreed to establish a Task and Finish Group to look in detail at the proposal around litter bins. He felt that this was the correct manner to deal with the issue and that the petition sought to short circuit the process.
Councillor Chris Johnson also highlighted the Task and Finish Group which had been established by the Community and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Other savings in street cleansing and grounds maintenance had been supported.
Councillor Norman Jorgensen commented that at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting, the removal of litter bins had not been supported, and it had been suggested that consideration could be given to other ways in which the savings could be made. He stated that only approximately 4% of respondents to the consultation had supported reducing the number of litter bins.
Councillor Stephen Newton highlighted the need for the Council to look at its cost and examine savings opportunities. The Council needed to make difficult decisions. He referred to the impact of high costs and high interest rates. The Council was working to support residents and maintain services.
Councillor Shahid Younis stated that there were other ways that savings could be made, and that the Executive were fixed on one particular way of making savings. He commented that holding elections every four years could have made savings. Whatever was agreed needed to be sustainable and help to provide a cleaner, greener environment in the Borough.
Councillor Sam Akhtar referred to the litter problem in the Borough. He was of the view that more bins and collections not less were required. Reducing bins and collections would have a negative impact on wildlife.
Councillor Abdul Loyes felt that maintaining public spaces was one of the most basic Council duties and that in reducing the number of litter bins, the Council would fail to meet a fundamental obligation to residents. The population had expanded in the Borough suggesting more bins not less were required. He referred to overflowing bins and littering in the summer.
Councillor Prue Bray stated that she could not support the Motion as it was factually incorrect. No decision had been taken to reduce the number of litter bins. Process and evidence-based decision making was important. This would include assessing what the likely impact of removing bins would be. All factors, including the Council’s financial position and if there were better ways to make savings, needed to be weighed up when taking a decision. Taking all the evidence into account would be how the Executive would approach making the decision.
Councillor Andrew Gray commented that at the meeting of the Community and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 2 October, the Conservative members had agreed to put the matter to a Task and Finish Group. However, they now wished to short circuit the process.
Councillor Rebecca Margetts commented that bins in her ward had not been emptied and that a decision to remove bins had been reversed.
Councillor Prue Bray declared a Point of Personal Explanation and indicated that a decision had not yet been taken.
Councillor Rebecca Margetts went on to state that bins had been covered, others had not been emptied, and rubbish had accrued. Members had received correspondence from residents as to why the bins were covered or not being emptied and had not known how to respond to them.
At this point in the meeting, in line with 4.2.13.11 g Councillor Peter Harper proposed that the time limit for speeches be extended. This was seconded by Councillor Andy Croy. Upon being put to the vote this was agreed.
Councillor Jackie Rance was of the view that Town and Parish Councils did not have sufficient funds to be liable for emptying and maintaining the bins in their areas, and the responsibility should lie entirely with the Borough Council.
Councillor Graham Howe commented that the Borough was a nice place to live and visit. It needed to be kept that way and for people to have pride in their area.
Councillor Stephen Conway also thanked the petitioners for expressing their views and assured them that they would be taken into account. He reminded Members that no decision had yet been taken. There was a need to follow due process. Councillor Stephen Conway emphasised that the model of working with Overview and Scrutiny and Overview and Scrutiny Committees Chairs presenting and explaining their recommendations to the Executive, was one which the Executive wished to follow.
In responding to the debate Councillor Pauline Jorgensen reminded Members that a press release had been issued in Councillor Ian Shenton’s name saying that the bins would be removed. This suggested that a decision had been taken. She stated that the petition and Motion had been put in place prior to the Community and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting. She felt that it was clear that residents did not want to see a reduction in litter bins.
It was proposed by Councillor Pauline Jorgensen and seconded by Councillor Norman Jorgensen that the petition be supported.
The Mayor announced that, following the vote, the petition was not supported.
It was then proposed by Councillor Stephen Conway and seconded by Councillor Prue Bray that:
‘Council thanks the petitioners for expressing their views and notes that:
a. the Corporate and Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 2 October considered the responses to the council consultation on proposals in the street cleaning and grounds maintenance service review, which included consideration of litter bins,
b. the recommendations from that meeting will be presented by the chair of the committee to the Council's Executive on 26th October in order to enable the Executive to take them into consideration when making its decision.’
Upon being put to the vote it was:
RESOLVED: That Council thanks the petitioners for expressing their views and notes that:
a. the Corporate and Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 2 October considered the responses to the council consultation on proposals in the street cleaning and grounds maintenance service review, which included consideration of litter bins,
b. the recommendations from that meeting will be presented by the chair of the committee to the Council's Executive on 26th October in order to enable the Executive to take them into consideration when making its decision.