Issue - meetings

                 Report of the Chief Executive.

Cllr Dr Mark McClelland, Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste, Streetscene and Floodingpresented the report which provided detailed options and evidence for Cabinet to reach a decision about the future delivery mechanism for grounds maintenance in Wiltshire.

In presenting the report, Cllr Dr McClelland commented on the background to the present street cleansing and amenity grounds maintenance services and how idverde currently provided the service under a resource based external contract, terminating on 30 November 2022. Details of current services provided to the Council were contained in the report along with an analysis of the options to deliver the service, either by procuring a new contract or bringing the service delivery under Council management.

Cllr Jerry Kunkler, Chair of the Environment Select Committee, confirmed that he and Cllr Bob Jones MBE, Vice-Chair of the Select Committee, received a briefing on the proposals on 9 July 2021. Cllr Kunkler reported that the Select Committee would be considering this matter at a future meeting. Cllr Jones MBE expressed concerns about the transition to the new contract; future monitoring and that there was no opportunity for the Select Committee to consider the report prior to the Cabinet meeting. 

Cllr Pip Ridout, Chair of the Financial Planning Task Group reported that the Task Group had been asked questions about the delivery of the grounds maintenance proposals and confirmed that the Task Group would be interested in considering the matter further alongside the work being undertaken by the Environment Select Committee.

In response to questions from Cllr Stewart Palmen, Cllr Derek Walters, Cllr Carole King and Cllr Chuck Berry about (i) Town and Parish Council asset transfers, (ii) fly tipping, (iii) community engagement and management of amenity grounds and (iv) inclusion of Parish Councils for any additional elements of the new contract; the Leader and Cllr Dr McClelland explained that (i) work on asset transfers was temporarily suspended due to the reallocation of staff during COVID-19, and this work would recommence once the current situation allowed. It was confirmed that detail about asset transfers would be included in any new contract; (ii) Enforcement was key to tackle fly tipping along with the provision of facilities to combat the issue; (iii) the specific detail raised by Cllr King would be considered by Cllr Dr McClelland and officers; and (iv) the inclusion of Parish Councils for additional elements of the new contract would take place.

Cabinet considered the exempt information contained in the appendix to the report in Part II of the meeting before making a decision on the matter.

Resolved:

See minute 36 below