Issue - meetings

The Members discussed the lessons learnt with regard to the Elmbridge mobilisation.  Issues were experienced due to:

·        Loss of local knowledge – 18 staff did not transfer

·        Initial productivity levels were lower than anticipated

·        Data on Amey’s ICT system had become corrupted – there had been three ICT systems for the data to move through which resulted in corrupt data.  Checks had been built into the next mobilisations at every stage of the process.

·        Managing expectations – with hindsight, a two phase mobilisation would have been beneficial for Elmbridge.  In addition it was recognised that any new system would experience initial disruption.

The Chairman provided some observations from Woking in relation to the mobilisation there:

·        Residents’ expectations were heightened during a change

·        Any issues had been quickly picked up by Joint Waste Solutions (JWS).

·        Crews were positive about the new Incab technology

·        Awareness of misleading press reports – the issues experienced at Elmbridge could be referred to when reporting on the Woking mobilisation.  It was difficult to control the reporting by the press but there had been a meeting with the journalist to discuss the challenges of running a waste service and to offer time with the crews to see first hand how the operation is being run.

·        Amey and JWS were working hard to get the mobilisation running smoothly

The Chairman commended the work carried out by the JWS team.

Resolved that the report be noted.