17 Jun 2009 - Waste Forum Meeting
You are invited to the next meeting of the Medway Waste Forum
on Wednesday 17th June 2009
starting at 7.30pm.
The venue is:-
Council Offices, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham.
Agenda:
1. Apologies for absence & agreement of previous minutes.
2. Matters Arising from previous Minutes 16th April 09. (other than those covered in the following agenda items).
3. Questions to Council Representative
4. Results & feedback from Composting Roadshow (30th May)
5. Sustainable Communities update.
6. Update on MFF 4 key issue templates and Member Reception/MWF Re-launch
7. Thoughts on next promotional event Water ? and confirm date.
8. Update on funding application
9. Constitution amendments including the addition of dissolution clause.
10. Any Other Business -Your chance to raise other issues
MINUTES OF THE MEDWAY WASTE FORUM 17 June 2009
ATTENDANCE:
Viv Parker, Mark Orsbourn, George Bright, Simon Marchant, Trish Marchant Steve Baker, John Hemsley, Sarah Dagwell, Gillian Feraday, Geoff Juby.
1) APOLOGIES:
Paul Robinson
2) MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING:
The minutes were proposed by Simon and Trish accepted with no amendments.
3) MATTERS ARISING:
We are still awaiting the glass recycling figures for last year. This is to assess the impact that the inclusion of glass as a kerbside collection has made. We now expect these to be ready for our next meeting.
The issue of the bottle bank in Hoo was raised - the collecting lorries are scuffing the surface of the car park in Hoo. This is still being investigated to find a solution.
The opportunity of the Sustainable Communities Act was called into Overview & Scrutiny in July. The Council appear as if they are not going to sign up for this initiative as they feel this would not add anything over their current consultative activities. So far we have over 50 signatures on our petition and it was suggested it could be circulated to other LA21 groups and community groups within Medway. The next round of applications start in October
4) QUESTIONS TO COUNCIL:
Our recycling figures as a whole for last year have not yet been published, but is expected to be around 33%, which is the current unaudited figure.
It was asked if the Cuxton recycling site could open longer especially after bank holidays due to the long queues. There is parking on the grass verges and also parking problems within the site itself due to poor traffic management. People are not allowed to walk due to health and safety issues. The issues were noted and are appreciated, but at this current stage of the contract, changes are unlikely.
On the question of street cleaning, there is a schedule of streets and frequency. A copy is available from Sam Irvine. Many streets are cleaned once a week and this should be after the refuse has been collected. Veolia (through a call to Medway Council) should be advised if this appears not to be the case. Monitoring officers inspect a sample number of roads.
The issue of fly-tipping on Luton Rec’ was raised - this is an issue for the Greenspaces team and their contractors. On the issue of full litter bins, the company needs to know if the bins are always full.
A press release is currently being prepared regarding the new contracts. At the appropriate time these will be released which will be the first stage in an information campaign to inform residents of the changes. Care must be taken not to release information too early as this may cause confusion if residents change their segregation of waste and recyclables prior to the contract starting.
5) COMPOST ROADSHOW 30th MAY:
The weather and the location in Chatham High Street were good and the stand was very busy with good feedback. Some people wanted brown bags, others complained about lack of blue bags. Others requested further details on the Waste Forum.
It was also suggested that recycling in Chatham High Street should be considered, where there are separate litter bins for various types of waste. Understanding that cross contamination may be an issue, it was thought that at least the domestic system should be mirrored with bins for refuse and bins for dry mixed recyclables, glass, cans, paper etc.
Discussions are taking place with Coca Cola to site bins in the High Street possibly next year. It is unlikely to happen at the end of the current contract, but it will be suggested to the contracts officer.
Mark will contact those who completed forms to say they have been passed on to the relevant parties. Brown bags are delivered by the contractor on request and each household can have a bin and 2 sacks or simply 4 sacks alone. There are no composting leaflets left now and it is unlikely that central funding will be again provided to support discounted compost bins, especially as bins can be purchased in High Street stores now, often cheaper than the supported offer price.
6) MWF, 4 ISSUES TEMPLATES:
Drafts have now been produced which set out our goals and actions to achieve them. A subcommittee is in the process of finalising the design and we will need to check with Paul to see if we have sufficient funds to pay for proper design. They will then be put on the website which will act as a benchmark for the relaunch of the Forum.
It was pointed out that we should target Members for the relaunch, but be aware that they are busy people and may not be available to attend. It was suggested we provide an article for Medway Matters as one of the lead partners on the LAA and also to invite the scrutiny coordinators to attend the launch. These can be contacted via Julie Keith in Democratic Services. Part of the relaunch may be to rename the forum.
The issue was raised over the potential increase in costs to commercial and local authority users in 2011 for the disposal of rainwater into the stormwater drains. It is unclear exactly how these proposals will be applied, but it is something we need to carry out some research on, prior to our August Roadshow.
7) Waste Water Roadshow:
Our next Roadshow will focus on Waste Water and is on 1st August. The trailer has been provisionally booked and further details will be discussed at our event planning meeting on 16th July.
8) FUNDING FROM GRASSROOTS:
Our application for £1032 to cover the cost of the energy bike was not successful. Mark had received a letter to this effect, only this morning and has not had the opportunity to talk to the organisation to find out why.
Geoff will see if he can source alternative funding for the bike. Sarah has not yet received the details about our bank account from Paul. Simon brought in a prototype of the energy bike and it was suggested we contact Ray Laws of the Kent Inventors Forum regarding equipment.
9) CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT:
At present we have no dissolution clause within our Constitution, in particular this relates to the disposal of funds in the event of our dissolution. This is something that funding organisations will require and in any event, is good practice. The clause to be inserted is as follows and according to our constitution this amendment requires 4 weeks notification prior to the vote. Thus the announcement at todays meeting on 17th June and a vote at the next meeting 18th August, easily fits within this requirement.
Proposed amendment to the constitution - addition of a new clause:-
11. Dissolution Clause.
If the Strategy/Steering Group decides (by a simple majority) at any time, that on the grounds of expense or otherwise it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Forum, it shall call a meeting of all members with power to vote, giving not less than 21 days' clear notice by current MWF communication methods, stating the terms of the resolution to be proposed.
If such decision shall be confirmed by a simple majority of those present and voting at such meeting, the Strategy/Steering Group shall have power to dispose of any assets held by or in the name of the Association. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be applied towards such charitable purposes or like minded organisations for the benefit of the residents of Medway as the Strategy/Steering Group shall decide and ensuring that no benefit is distributed to any individual member of the Forum for any personal gain.
10) ANY OTHER BUSINESS:
The Age of Stupid is being shown on 15th July at 7.30pm at the Vines URC, Rochester.
Mark Johnson will attend our AGM on 15th October to discuss the integrated transport plan.
11) DATE OF NEXT MEETING:
The next formal meeting will be on 18 August.
If you need to contact anyone regarding this meeting please contact: Mark Orsbourn, Chair, Mark@TBHoldings.com 07872 838249