Proposed by Councillor Harry Smith

Seconded by Councillor Adrian Jones

(1)  This Council notes that the New Year heralded yet more chaos in bin collections on Wirral as the December shambles continued. Council believes that this level of poor performance in refuse collection is unacceptable and points out that the Cabinet member responsible for maintaining a good refuse collection service, Councillor Lesley Rennie, and the Leader of the Council, Councillor Jeff Green, who has been so anxious to reassure the public that all is well, are the same two councillors who were fired from the Cabinet by Councillor Steve Foulkes four years ago when they presided over another shambles in Wirral’s bin collections.

(2)  Council recognises that Wirral residents pay their Council Tax in order to receive good services and that proper collection of rubbish is an essential and very visible part of those services.

(3)  Council notes that the winter weather is not yet over and seeks immediate reassurances that another snow fall will not see a repeat of the appalling performance earlier this year with bins left uncollected for weeks on end.

(4)  Council believes that, although the option of charging for garden waste collection was finally rejected by the Conservative Liberal Democrat Cabinet, it will only be a matter of time before the catastrophic cuts foisted by their government on local authorities will add this charge to many other new and increased charges, increasing the financial burden on hard pressed Wirral residents.

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2).

Proposed by Councillor Lesley Rennie

Seconded by Councillor Jeff Green

Delete Paragraph (1) and renumber paragraph (2) as (1) and delete paragraphs (3) and (4) then add:

(2)  Council notes that, following advice from the Met Office, Wirral undertook a programme of gritting of major roads and pedestrian areas

(3)  Council thanks residents for their patience during the severe weather conditions and reiterates that maintaining safety for residents and council staff and contractors is a priority.

(4)  Council notes:

(a)  Biffa crews often worked in appalling conditions and worked through Bank Holidays and until 2030hrs some days

(b)  Community Payback, Council staff and Biffa crews worked together to grit roads and pavements in some locations

(5)  Council welcomes the additional arrangements introduced during this period, including temporary collection points across the Borough which enabled the backlog on collection routes to be tackled quicker.

(6)  Council requests the Cabinet Member consider, as part of the review of the service during the severe weather, the following:

(a)  Additional means of communicating with residents during further severe weather

(b)  Opportunities for more effective use of Bidston waste collection centre, in discussion with Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority

(c)  Additional equipment for Biffa crews and wagons to enable greater resilience during severe weather

(d)  That these measures, and advice for residents, be included in the Guide to Services in Severe Weather, being produced by the Council

The amendment was put and carried (41:22)

Amendment submitted in accordance with Standing Order 7(2).

Proposed by Councillor Alan Brighouse

Seconded by Councillor Ann Bridson

Paragraph (1):Delete all after ‘poor performance in refuse collection is unacceptable’

Paragraph (3):Insert after “immediate reassurances” the text “from the contractor”

Paragraph (4), line 1: Delete the words “believes that although” and replace with “notes”.

Paragraph (4), line 2: Delete “finally” and delete all after “Liberal Democrat Cabinet”.

Insert new Paragraph (5):

(5)  Council welcomes the Cabinet’s response to seek to further improve winter resilience reported in minute 286 (13^th January) and requests the further thorough investigation of this by the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The amendment was put and carried (41:22)

The motion as amended was put and carries (41:22)

Resolved (41:22) –

(1)  Council recognises that Wirral residents pay their Council Tax in order to receive good services and that proper collection of rubbish is an essential and very visible part of those services.

(2)  Council notes that, following advice from the Met Office, Wirral undertook a programme of gritting of major roads and pedestrian areas

(3)  Council thanks residents for their patience during the severe weather conditions and reiterates that maintaining safety for residents and council staff and contractors is a priority.

(4)  Council notes:

(a)  Biffa crews often worked in appalling conditions and worked through Bank Holidays and until 2030hrs some days

(b)  Community Payback, Council staff and Biffa crews worked together to grit roads and pavements in some locations

(5)  Council welcomes the additional arrangements introduced during this period, including temporary collection points across the Borough which enabled the backlog on collection routes to be tackled quicker.

(6)  Council requests the Cabinet Member consider, as part of the review of the service during the severe weather, the following:

a.  Additional means of communicating with residents during further severe weather

b.  Opportunities for more effective use of Bidston waste collection centre, in discussion with Merseyside Waste Disposal Authority

c.  Additional equipment for Biffa crews and wagons to enable greater resilience during severe weather

d.  That these measures, and advice for residents, be included in the Guide to Services in Severe Weather, being produced by the Council

(7)  Council welcomes the Cabinet’s response to seek to further improve winter resilience reported in minute 286 (13th January) and requests the further thorough investigation of this by the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee.