Agenda item

Consideration was given to report of the Head of Community Services.

The Service Manager Community Services presented the report which provided Members with the Strategic Business Case for the development of a second Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) in Roseheyworth. 

He went through the report and highlighted points contained.  He reported that Welsh Government had now confirmed that the Council’s bid for capital funding for a new HWRC had been successful, with a full award of £2.8m being made for the facility.  The Council had recently approved £520k from its capital programme towards the project, and this could now be reallocated back into the capital programme contingency.  Detailed revenue costs were currently being modelled across a number of different scenarios, and would be reported to Scrutiny in due course.

A Member welcomed the successful funding bid, and whilst there was a lot of work to be done, she believed that this was a really important facility for the Ebbw Fach Valley.  She was also pleased with the new site layout, particularly the proposed installation of traffic lights on the A467.

Another Member said he also welcomed the successful funding bid, and asked whether a Joint Scrutiny Committee   would be held on this matter, as previously requested by the Leader of the Labour Group. 

The Member then referred to a report which had been submitted to Council previously, which mentioned the proposed opening hours of the Borough’s two HWRC facilities, i.e. the existing facility at Waun-y-Pound and the proposed new facility at Roseheyworth.  He expressed concern that the proposed opening arrangements on a part-time basis would increase fly tipping issues on the days the facilities were closed, and said he could only support the new facility if it was open 7 days per week.

In response the Officer said various operational arrangements were currently being considered as part of the business model currently being developed.  However, it was not intended to consider any less than 5 days opening. 

A Member commended Officers and the Leadership for bringing in this significant investment for the new facility, and urged Members to support the investment.  He said all other issues in relation to revenue costs, and operational arrangements would be considered when a more detailed further report was completed. 

In response a Member asked that the report be submitted to a Joint Scrutiny Committee for consideration by all Members, and the Chair said this would be discussed with the Head of Democratic Services.

Another Member said he fully supported the facility which was long overdue, and would have a positive impact on fly tipping in Ebbw Fach Valley.

The Committee AGREED to recommend, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted and:-

·       Scrutiny Members support the Strategic Business Case for the development of a second Household Waste Recycling Centre and recommend approval of the Strategic Business Case to Executive (Option 1); and

·       That a further report be submitted to Committee on the detailed revenue costs, to include operational issues.