To receive a presentation providing an update on the progress made towards achieving the aims, priorities and objectives set out in Amey’s contract Improvement Plan for the 2020/21 financial year.
Minutes:
The Committee received a presentation in respect of the work taking place to achieve the targets and objectives set out in the Contract Improvement Plan for 2020/21 and an overview of the Contract Improvement Plan for 2021/22.
It was reported that Amey had continued to successfully deliver collection services across the partnership area throughout the ongoing pandemic periodand the implications that this was having on staffing levels and the delivery of the following key areas of work was noted:
· The successful implementation of the Mole Valley Route optimisation
· Use of Incab technology had risen from 50% to 98% with the remaining 2% of non-use occurring due to either connectivity issues or system failure.
· 11 of the 12 scheduled litter and detritus surveys had been successfully completed.
· There had been an 18%improvement in year on year customer complaints compared to a target of 2%.
· Amey had taken advantage of the reduction in road traffic to progress the cleaning of high speed roads.
· Work with the Buildforce and SAAFA had enabled Amey to provide employment opportunities and work placements to ex-military personnel. Similar work had been undertaken with the Surrey Police Community Safety Team to provide opportunities for former offenders.
· Support had been given to community groups through the delivery of food and medication to vulnerable and shielding residents, a £19,000 donation had been made to Dorking food bank and personal protective equipment had been supplied to nursing homes in Woking and Surrey Heath.
· Support had been provided to Junior Citizens events help at Sandown Racecourse to help educate children about recycling.
· Participation in a biodiesel fuel trial in Elmbridge.
There were a number of actions, which it had not been possible to complete in 2020/21 due to either resourcing or restrictions arising from the pandemic including route optimisation in Surrey Heath, Woking and Elmbridge, the implementation community forums, the development of a commercial waste strategy and a bulky items reuse scheme. These actions would be carried forward into the 2021/22 improvement plan.
It was clarified that the biodiesel fuel trial would initially focus on Elmbridge’s fleet and the community transport fleet in particular before being rolled out to Amey’s fleet. The implementation of the trial had been impacted by the pandemic and once more data was available the outcomes of the trial would be shared.
To encourage greener driver behaviour all Amey’s vehicles had been fitted with monitors which tracked the vehicle through the day; reports were downloaded and reviewed on a daily basis and areas of concern were raised with the drivers concerned. Since the system had been implemented there had been a significant improvement in driver behaviour and currently the majority of concerns arose when new drivers were employed.
It was confirmed that the possibility of replacing the fleet with electric vehicles was being explored and more specific details would be reported in future updates.
It was acknowledged that the 65% target for household waste being recycled was challenging. Communal bins at flatted developments had been identified as a particular cause of contamination and an educational trial was being run in Woking in developments where communal bins had been identified as a significant problem. This education work was starting to have an impact on contamination of loads and it was hoped that the trial would be expanded to other areas.
The continued pressure on local authority finances was stressed and it was questioned why more was not being done to exploit the cross boundary opportunities that the joint contract provided.
The Committee noted the update and thanked Amey for maintaining the waste collection service during the course of the pandemic
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