Issue - meetings

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Environment and Transport regarding the outcome of two consultation exercises on proposals to make savings from the Recycling and Household Waste Sites service and proposing the closure of the Somerby Recycling and Household Waste Site (RHWS) and changes to the opening hours at other RHWSs.  A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 5’, is filed with these minutes.

Members commented on the high number of responses to the consultation and noted that the savings target had been reduced to enable changes to the original proposals. 

RESOLVED:

a)    That the Somerby RHWS be closed with effect from October 2024;

b)    That the opening arrangements at the Recycling and Household Waste Sites at Bottesford, Market Harborough, Kibworth, and Shepshed be as follows with effect from October 2024:

i.         Bottesford - three days per week,

ii.        Market Harborough - three days per week,

iii.       Kibworth - four days per week,

iv.       Shepshed - two days per week;

c)    That the summer opening hours at all the Council’s Recycling and Household Waste Sites be reduced with effect from April 2025, to be as follows:

i.         from 9.00am to 5.00pm on Saturdays, Sundays, or Mondays;

ii.        from 9.00am to 7.00pm on other days;

d)    That all the Council’s Recycling and Household Waste Sites be closed on Christmas Eve with effect from December 2024;

e)    That the Somerby RHWS be considered for disposal. 

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

To note the outcome of the public consultation.

The recommended proposals will enable the savings target set out in the 2024-28 Medium Term Financial Strategy to be achieved.

The Cabinet in June 2023 accepted the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review Panel including that if sites were closed, initially plans to decommission but not sell them be supported. Only the Somerby RHWS is to close, and the site is then likely to be surplus to requirement. If so, its future use or disposal would be a matter for the Director of Corporate Resources using his delegated powers.