Agenda and minutes

The Convener welcomed members to this, her first meeting of the Zero Waste Management Committee, and reminded members of the remit of the Sub Committee –

“to deal with all matters pertaining to strategic waste management issues including (1) identifying a preferred solution further to an options appraisal; (2) the contracting of new services in this regard; and (3) undertaking any spend within the allocated waste management budgets”.

The Convener proposed that the Sub Committee consider one appendix identified on the agenda as being for determination in private, with the press and public excluded. 

The Sub Committee resolved:

in terms of Section 50(A)(4) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for item 8 of the agenda on the grounds that it was likely in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings that if members of the public or press were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 8 of the Act.

With reference to article 10(i) of the minute of meeting of Council of 4 April, 2012, the Sub Committee had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 14 Februarywhich had been approved as a correct record at the aforementioned meeting of Council.

The Sub Committee resolved:

to note the minute.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Housing and Environment which presented an overview of the Zero Waste Management project, including its remit, the governance arrangements, decisions taken to date and the next steps.

The Sub Committee resolved:

to note the report.

With reference to article 4 of the minute of its previous meeting, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Housing and Environment which provided members with an overview of the different waste collection and treatment options.

The Sub Committee resolved:

to note the report.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Housing and Environment which provided a summary of the Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012, and identified the elements most likely to impact on the Council. The report also further advised of a recent change in the method of measuring recycling rates.

A discussion took place regarding the collection of food waste, and it was noted that although it was a high cost to the Council in return for low tonnage collection, that this was now a regulatory requirement. Officers provided a synopsis of the different options available to the Council regarding food waste collection including cornstarch bags, plastic bags and newspapers, and the potential ramifications of these methods, including contamination.

Members queried as to whether waste collection formed part of the Council’s carbon management programme. Officers advised that this was the case, although the two were not interlinked.

The Sub Committee resolved:

(i)         to note the content of the report;

(ii)        to agree that the Aberdeen city recycling and composting targets be measured according to tonnage rather than carbon metric as previously proposed by the Scottish Government.

With reference to article 2 of the minute of its previous meeting of 15 February, 2012, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Housing and Environment which proposed that members of the Sub Committee attend a study visit to the south east of England to see first hand waste and recycling treatment facilities.

The Sub Committee resolved:

that every member of the Sub Committee have the opportunity to attend the study visit, and that each political group have one representative on the study visit if at all possible.

The Committee had before it a report by the Director of Housing and Environment which presented members with an overview of the Zero Waste Management project outline business case.

The Sub Committee resolved:

(i)         to note the requirement for an outline business case, and the progress made to date, as detailed within the report; and

(ii)        to agree that a workshop be held for members of the Sub Committee to consider the outline business case after the study visit, and before the next scheduled meeting.

Councillor Finlayson enquired as to whether any consideration had been given to a waste disposal exhibition / conference being hosted in Aberdeen. Members thought that this was a good idea, and it was suggested that the Council might look into having a waste management stand at the next All Energy exhibition.

The Sub Committee had before it a proposed schedule of dates for future meetings. It was noted that two of these dates clashed with dates set aside for the Appeals Panel.

The Sub Committee resolved:

(i)         to agree that the date of the next meeting would be Wednesday 3 October, 2012 at 2pm; and

(ii)        to agree that the Convener liaise with the clerk to agree dates for the year ahead.

- COUNCILLOR JEAN MORRISON MBE, Convener.