Agenda item

To provide the Committee with an update on the Council’s Waste, Cleansing and Streetscene services, delivered by the Council’s wholly owned environmentally focused company, Blackpool Waste Services Ltd, trading as ENVECO and to consider the Waste and Recycling Policy document.

Mr John-Paul Lovie, Waste Services Manager presented an update on the Council’s Waste, Cleansing and Streetscene services. The report detailed the work undertaken since the Enveco, a Council wholly owned company, had been established to undertake various waste services in Blackpool.

The Committee discussed the importance of succession planning with officers, noting that the report highlighted that employees were being upskilled to be able to undertake a wider range of work. Although this was welcomed a concern was raised that by doing this, more specialist skills particularly in relation to horticulture, could be lost. Mr Lovie replied that this had been recognised and that waste services was looking at how to retain such specialist skills going forward.

Mr Lovie also informed the Committee, in response to a query regarding the planned expansion of services undertaken by Enveco, that a number of commercial waste collection contracts had been taken back by the company and there had been a growth in the trade waste collected in Wyre. He added that as a wholly-owned private company, Enveco was able to do more than an in-house service, while retaining the same vision as the Council to deliver for residents and invest in problematic areas. Mr John Blackledge, Director of Community and Environmental Services, added that Enveco had grown to have a £12m turnover and was increasing the number of people it had engaged with. The company had also established a new Training and Development facility at the Layton Depot which would help improve the quality of service the staff offered. He also explained that the Council had engaged local people regarding what they could do to help improve their areas.

Mr Blackledge also reported that a new set of key performance indicators would be developed as part of the services improvement programme. This would allow services to better review performance and identify areas for improvement.

The issue of weeds was discussed as an area of historical, frequent local complaint. Members reported that they had received positive feedback from residents regarding the response from the service to addressing weeds. Mr Lovie welcomed the feedback and added that investment had been made into doubling the weed treatment resources, purchasing new equipment and training for staff, along with the development of a weeds plan to address the issue going forward.

A query was raised by the Committee regarding why the collection of bulky items remained outside of Enveco and was the responsibility of a private contractor. Mr Lovie explained that the timescales involved in establishing the company had meant that Enveco had been unable to integrate the bulky items contract into its services. However, he added that once the contract came up for renewal the Council would consider its integration with the company.

Members of the Committee welcomed the report and expressed the view that the service had improved following the establishment of Enveco. It was noted that the service had saved £750k and that public feedback had been largely positive. Mr Lovie added that the focus would remain on driving quality. Councillor Lynn Williams, Leader of the Council also stated that the company had delivered for residents and that work would continue to engage the community and show how to improve areas through collaborative working.

The Committee agreed to note the report.