Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned either a

(a)   personal interest

(b)   prejudicial interest

(c)    disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI)

and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

The Advisory Board agreed that under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the restricted set of minutes within Item 3 ‘Minutes of the last meeting held on 20 October 2020’, and the whole of Item 5 ‘Blackpool Waste Services Limited (T/A Enveco) – Phase 2 Development’, Item 6 ‘Blackpool Transport Services Limited’, Item 7 ‘Blackpool Airport Operations Limited’ and Item 8 ‘Blackpool Airport Procurement Update’ on the grounds that they would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 20 October 2020 as a true and correct record.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

The Advisory Board considered the minutes of the last meeting held on 20 October 2020, noting that there was a public and restricted version.

The Advisory Board agreed the minutes of the meeting be signed by the Chairman as a true and correct record.

To update the Board on performance and key developments to date for Blackpool Waste Services Limited.

(Mr John Hawkin, Managing Director, Blackpool Waste Services Limited, Councillor Adrian Hutton, Chair, Blackpool Waste Services Limited, Councillor Jim Hobson, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment and Mr John Blackledge, Director of Community and Environmental Services joined the meeting for this item).

Mr John Hawkin, Managing Director, Blackpool Waste Services Limited (BWS) provided an overview of the recent work of the Company and highlighted the temporary impact of the national lockdown in March 2020 on the provision of services. He advised that measures had been put in place in order to provide resilience and capacity in the Company to allow for employees needing to shield or isolate. In order to advise the public of the temporary changes to collection services, there had been extensive communication through social media and through the use of tags on every bin.

It was reported that an additional consequence of the pandemic had been higher levels of domestic waste due to the increase in the amount of time people were spending at home, cooking and eating at home and the higher levels of online shopping. There had also been an increase in the level of green waste following the resumption of that service.

Mr Hawkin referred to the Company’s key performance indicators and noted that the indicator relating to the delivery of new bins had been temporarily put on hold during the pandemic due to issues in the supply of new stock, when new bins were available from suppliers the target had been met. He also noted the higher levels of missed bins and cited the changes made to collection schedules during the first national lockdown as a key reason for the bins not being collected.

In relation to the financial performance of the Company, Mr Hawkin highlighted that the accounts to the year end March 2020 had been audited and submitted to Companies House and showed a small surplus at year end which had been set aside as a contingency fund for the Company. He added that BWS was on track to meet financial objectives in the current financial year.

It was noted that key objectives for BWS moving forward included to reduce the number of residents currently using black bags rather than bins for waste and to increase recycling levels. In response to a question, Mr Hawkin noted that the introduction of some initiatives had been delayed due to the pandemic such as the collection of batteries and small electrical items. However, batteries could be recycled at collection points in leisure centres, libraries and schools.

(Mr John Hawkin, Managing Director, Blackpool Waste Services Limited and Councillor Adrian Hutton, Chair, Blackpool Waste Services left the meeting following conclusion of this item).

To update the Board with regards to the potential further development of ENVECO to integrate Cleansing and StreetScene related services.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

(The press and public were excluded prior to the consideration of this item as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act).

Mr John Blackledge, Director of Community and Environmental Services presented the report to the Board.

The Advisory Board discussed the information provided in detail and agreed to note the update.

(Mr John Blackledge, Director of Community and Environmental Services left the meeting following the conclusion of this item).

To update the Shareholder’s Advisory Board on the current status of the Company and to provide a summary of performance.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

(The press and public were excluded prior to the consideration of this item as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act).

(Ms Jane Cole, Managing Director, Blackpool Transport Services, Mr James Carney, Financial Director, Blackpool Transport Services and Councillor Paul Galley, Chair, Blackpool Transport Services entered the meeting for this item).

Ms Jane Cole, Managing Director, Blackpool Transport Services provided an update on the company’s current status, financial position and key performance indicators.

The Advisory Board discussed the information provided in detail and agreed to note the update.

(Ms Jane Cole, Managing Director, Blackpool Transport Services, Mr James Carney, Financial Director, Blackpool Transport Services, Councillor Paul Galley, Chair, Blackpool Transport Services entered and Councillor Jim Hobson, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Environment left the meeting following the conclusion of this item).

To update the Shareholder’s Advisory Board on the current status of the Company and to provide a summary of performance.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

(The press and public were excluded prior to the consideration of this item as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act).

(Mr Stephen Smith, Airport Manager, Blackpool Airport and Councillor Gillian Campbell, Chair, Blackpool Airport Operations Limited entered the meeting for this item).

Mr Stephen Smith, Airport Manager, Blackpool Airport provided an overview of the Airport’s current status, financial position and key performance indicators.

The Advisory Board discussed the information in detail and agreed to note the update.

(Mr Stephen Smith, Airport Manager, Blackpool Airport and Councillor Gillian Campbell, Chair, Blackpool Airport Operations Limited left the meeting following conclusion of this item).

To receive a verbal update on the Blackpool Airport procurement process.

(This item contains commercially sensitive information which is exempt from publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972).

(The press and public were excluded prior to the consideration of this item as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act).

(Mr Alan Cavill, Director of Regeneration and Communication entered the meeting for this item).

Mr Alan Cavill, Director of Regeneration and Communication provided a verbal update on Blackpool Airport Procurement to the Board.

The Advisory Board agreed to note the update provided and receive a further report in due course, if required.