In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 9.2 to allow Members to ask questions about Council activities. The replies to any such questions will be given by the Chair of the Council or relevant Committee or the appropriate Cabinet Member. Questions must be received in writing or by email to the Monitoring Officer by 12 noon twelve clear working days before the meeting.
The following questions have been submitted:-
Question A – Proposed by Councillor R Welton to Councillor J Barry, Portfolio Holder for Growth and Assets
We welcome the commitment made at the recent EGM 11 November 2025 to a review of the Council’s Asset Management Board. Will the Cabinet Member involve cross party elected members in this review through a working group?
Question B – Proposed by Councillor A Dale to Councillor S Pickering, Portfolio Holder for Environment & Place
Can the Portfolio Holder please provide an update on the extension of green bin collections over the winter, as suggested in the recent Simpler Recycling report and the plans for black and burgundy bin collections over the forthcoming Christmas period, with measures to avoid a repeat of the complaints in previous years?
Minutes:
The Chair confirmed that two questions had been received.
Question A – Councillor R Welton to Councillor J Barry, Portfolio Holder for Growth and Assets
We welcome the commitment made at the recent EGM 11 November 2025 to a review of the Council’s Asset Management Board. Will the Cabinet Member involve cross party elected members in this review through a working group?
Councillor J Barry responded that she had committed to undertaking a review of the Disposals and Acquisitions Strategy, which the current administration had inherited from the previous administration. She noted that the strategy had not been reviewed since 2017, and therefore a review was clearly due. However, this work had been timed to follow completion of the Strategic Asset Management Plan, to ensure the two documents were aligned. She confirmed that the Asset Management Board’s Terms of Reference had also been reviewed recently and remained fit for purpose. Turning to the question of establishing a cross?party group, she explained that property management was an Executive function, not a Council function. As such, it was for Cabinet to determine the future strategy. She therefore advised that the answer to this part of the question was no, although Cabinet would listen to the views expressed by Members as the review progressed.
Councillor R Welton asked a supplementary question seeking confirmation on whether Councillor K Gillott would be required to recuse himself from any involvement in the forthcoming review of the Strategy, on the grounds of a conflict of interest as a Cabinet member, with Cabinet being solely responsible for asset management, and as Chair of the Standards Committee, which had oversight of corporate governance.
Councillor J Barry confirmed that the right protocols would be followed for the review.
Question B – Councillor A Dale to Councillor S Pickering, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Place
Can the Portfolio Holder please provide an update on the extension of green bin collections over the winter, as suggested in the recent Simpler Recycling report and the plans for black and burgundy bin collections over the forthcoming Christmas period, with measures to avoid a repeat of the complaints in previous years?
Councillor S Pickering reminded Members that briefing sessions on Simpler Recycling would be held and encouraged all Councillors to attend to ask questions and increase their understanding of Simpler Recycling requirements and future service changes. Regarding green bin collections, Councillor Pickering confirmed that the Council intended to extend green bin collections from next winter. In respect of black and burgundy bin collections over the Christmas period, he explained that the Council had already published updated bin calendars. Additional burgundy and black bin collections were being provided on either side of Christmas to help residents manage increased festive waste. He took the opportunity to thank all collection crews and staff involved in delivering waste services across the district.
Councillor A Dale echoed the praise for the refuse collection teams and that they deserved time off over the Christmas period. In respect of the green bin extension, he asked how long the winter extension would last. He also stated that he had received concerns from residents about some burgundy bins going three weeks without being emptied and noted that the primary issue appeared to be public awareness and therefore asked what further steps the Council could take to ensure that more residents were aware of their bin collection dates, particularly during the Christmas period.
Councillor Pickering confirmed that from next winter, the Council intended to provide an extended service, with only December left without a green bin collection. Further detail would be provided at forthcoming Member briefing sessions on Simpler Recycling. He added that, following a review of the bin calendar, no household should go more than a fortnight without a burgundy bin collection. If recyclable material was presented as side waste, crews would accept it, but non?recyclable side waste would be left, providing a clear explanation to residents where necessary. He invited the Member to share any specific cases where a longer gap had occurred so that officers could investigate but reiterated his understanding that the scheduling had been planned to minimise disruption as far as possible.