Subject:

City Environment Modernisation Update

Date of Meeting:

21 September 2021

Report of:

Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture

Contact Officer:

Name:

Lynsay Cook

Tel:

01273 292448

 

Email:

Lynsay.cook@brighton-hove.gov.uk

Ward(s) affected:

All

 

FOR GENERAL RELEASE

 

1.         PURPOSE OF REPORT AND POLICY CONTEXT

 

1.1         The Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee last received an update on the City Environment Modernisation Programme at its meeting on 16 March 2021. This report provides a further progress update.

 

1.2         The report also provides information and updates relating to several Cityclean service areas since the March report.

 

2.         RECOMMENDATIONS:    

 

2.1         That Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee note the progress of the Modernisation Programme, including the updates in Appendix 1.

 

3.            CONTEXT/ BACKGROUND INFORMATION

 

3.1         The City Environment Modernisation Programme is developing a sustainable future for the service in Brighton & Hove in the context of reducing council budgets, increasing customer demand and potential future legislative changes. Many City Environment services are statutory and are under a lot of scrutiny. The service has an integral role in resident, business and visitor perceptions of Brighton & Hove and is fundamental to the success and attraction of the city.

 

3.2         The depth, breadth and complexity of the issues being addressed cannot be underestimated. A significant proportion of management time and effort is used to address these issues in order to build a strong foundation which is required to ensure visible and sustainable improvements in service delivery for the future.

 

3.3         Appendix 1 contains an update on each of the key projects within the Modernisation Programme. A green RAG rating means the project is on track, an amber rating means the project is slightly off track and red means the project is off track.

 

Highlights from Modernisation Update

 

3.4         Some key milestones achieved over the last few months include:

·                Received first electric Refuse Collection Vehicle

·                Procured a ticketing and software system for the Environmental Enforcement Team, a significant step forward in modernising City Environment via digital means

·                Completed bulky waste service review, identifying future improvements for the service

·                Received approval to implement new model to manage commercial bins on the highway, a key part of the effort to Keep Brighton & Hove Tidy

·                Received £2.7m to refurbish public toilets across the city and approval to bring the cleaning and maintenance of public toilets in-house

 

Service delivery

 

3.5         July and August presented some challenges for service delivery, which has continued into September. The issues started in mid-July with rising rates of Covid-19 across the country and the impact in the city resulting in many staff being ‘pinged’ and having to self-isolate, whilst others had Covid and also needed to isolate.

 

3.6         During the spring and summer, it was also very difficult to recruit new people or bring in agency staff, due to the need to self-isolate, with the situation made worse due to the national shortage of HGV drivers as a result of Brexit. As a result of leaving the European Union, it has also been difficult getting vehicle parts for when trucks break down, meaning the truck and crew cannot start their round, resulting in missed collections.

 

3.7         Ultimately, when rounds or street cleansing services are missed, it’s then very difficult to catch up without the correct numbers of staff.

 

3.8         To help manage this, garden waste collections were suspended for two weeks from 9 August, to allow the service to focus resources where they’re most needed. All subscriptions will have an extension added to make up the missed round.

 

Other activities

 

3.9         The council is awaiting the outcomes of the consultations on the National Resources and Waste Strategy. The consultations were seeking views on radical changes over the next five years, to fundamentally change the way materials and waste are managed. Work has started to prepare for the likely changes, such as the introduction of a food waste collection service and increasing the range of dry recyclable materials.

 

3.10      A service redesign is in the process of being implemented for the Strategy & Service Improvement Team in City Environment, covering Cityclean and City Parks. This redesign has considered service requirements in order for City Environment to manage more effectively and deliver more efficiently. Improvements are expected for strategy and project delivery, the customer experience, procurement activities and contract monitoring.

 

 

 

 

4.            ANALYSIS & CONSIDERATION OF ANY ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

 

4.1         As noted above, the City Environment Modernisation Programme is developing a sustainable future for the service in Brighton & Hove in the context of reducing council budgets, increasing customer demand and potential legislative changes. Within this, work is taking place to improve performance on refuse, recycling, garden and trade waste collections and street cleansing, as well as adopting a more commercial approach to income generating services. Without the continuation of the Programme, there is a risk that improvements will not be delivered and there will be further pressures on the City Environment budget.

 

5.            COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & CONSULTATION

 

5.1         Previous community and consultation activities in relation to the Modernisation Programme are detailed in the committee reports listed as Background Documents below.

 

6.            CONCLUSION

 

6.1         This report provides Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee with a progress report on the Modernisation Programme and other areas of Cityclean service delivery. Improvement and modernisation work continues to be delivered, but there is still some way to go.

 

7.         FINANCIAL & OTHER IMPLICATIONS:

 

Financial Implications:

 

7.1       This report is an update report on progress on existing initiatives which are funded from existing resources. It is expected that pressure funding bids for additional resources will, if required, be brought forward for consideration in the next budget setting round.

 

            Finance Officer Consulted: John Lack                                         Date: 08/09/21

 

Legal Implications:

 

7.2       There are no direct legal implications arising from the report’s recommendations.

                                                                   

            Lawyer Consulted: Name:  Hilary Woodward                             Date: 06/09/2021

 

            Equalities Implications:

 

7.3         Any resident unable to present their refuse bin or recycling bin/box for collection can apply for an assisted collection.

 

            Sustainability Implications:

 

7.4         Many of the projects within the City Environment Modernisation Programme have sustainability implications. This includes objectives to increase recycling, reduce litter and enhance biodiversity.

 

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

 

Appendices

 

1.            City Environment Modernisation Programme Update

 

Background Documents

 

1.            National Resources and Waste Strategy to Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 22 June

2.            Food Waste Collection Service Update to Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 22 June

3.            Commercial Bins on the Highway: Outcomes of Public Consultation to Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 22 June

4.            Environmental Enforcement Framework to Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 22 June

5.            Bin Infrastructure Strategy and Action Plan to Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 22 June

6.            City Environment Modernisation Update to Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 16 March 2021

7.            City Environment Modernisation Update to Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 29 September 2020

8.            Internal Audit Annual Report and Opinion 2019/20 to Audit & Standards Committee on 21 July 2020

9.            Fleet Procurement Options to Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 26 November 2019

10.         City Environment Modernisation Update to Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 8 October 2019

11.         City Environment Modernisation Update to Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 25 June 2019

12.         City Environment Modernisation Update to Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 22 January 2019

13.         Environmental Enforcement Framework Report to Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 27 November 2018

14.         Graffiti Reduction Strategy Report to Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 27 November 2018

15.         Public Convenience Report to Policy, Resources & Growth Committee on 11 October 2018

16.         City Environmental Management – Modernisation Programme Update Report to Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 9 October 2018

17.         City Environmental Management – Modernisation Programme Update Report to Policy, Resources & Growth Committee on 12 July 2018

18.         Update on Chargeable Garden Waste Collection Service Report to Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 28 June 2016

19.         Proposals for a Chargeable Garden Waste Collection Service Report to Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee on 13 October 2015

20.         Cityclean Service Plan and Priorities Report to Policy & Resources Committee on 9 July 2015