To receive an update from Amey on the progress made towards achieving the aims, priorities and objectives set out in Amey’s Contract Improvement Plan.
Minutes:
The Committee received a presentation on the progress made by Amey towards achieving the aims, priorities and objectives set out in the contract improvement plan.
Following the recent spate of industrial action, Amey’s Business Continuity Plans had been reviewed; it was subsequently felt that due to the similarity of the plans developing a single plan that covered all four areas would be an appropriate way forward. The updated Plan had now been shared with Joint Waste Solutions (JWS) and once the Plan had been finalised an independent consultant would be brought in to test the plan’s robustness. It was expected that this process would be completed by March 2023.
To ensure that repairs to vehicles were able to be made in good time and vehicle downtimes reduced a review of how parts were ordered had been carried out and processes put in place to enable staff to order stock directly from suppliers as well as sourcing parts from the Trafford depots covered by Amey’s other waste contract.
There had been a noticeable increase in the number of reports of aggression and verbal abuse towards collection crews from members of the public. When the behaviour did put crews and other road users at risk these incidents were reported to the police and videos of incidents were publicised on social media to raise awareness of the problem. It was agreed that video footage would be shared with partners so that awareness of the problem could be raised further.
In September 2022, food waste collections had been expanded to an additional 3,000 properties (predominantly flats and communal properties in Surrey Heath) that had not been receiving a food waste service. Initial feedback had been positive and performance would continue to be monitored. The project was now being expanded across the joint contract area.
Following concerns from staff about the rising cost of livening, a new scheme had been introduced that provided staff with advance access to up to 50% of the wages earned in that month as an alternative to employees turning to high interest pay day loans. The scheme had been received positively and employees accessing the service were provided with support through Amey’s Human Resources section.
It was clarified that a technical issue had meant that emails concerning resubscribing to the garden waste service had not all been delivered to those residents who had two or more garden waste bins and letters had subsequently been sent to all residents who may have been impacted by this to provide accurate information. It was stressed that no bins were being removed where subscriptions were renewed.
Due to a significant increase in price, a decision had been made to not subcontract leafing work to a third party and two additional mechanical sweepers had been hired for each area during the three month leafing period. Due to employee absences commencement of the leafing work in Mole Valley had been delayed and an additional caged vehicle and leaf blower had been deployed in the area to catch up. It was noted that the use of a caged vehicle accompanied by an employee with a leaf blower was producing a higher quality of finish on paths and roads than a mechanical sweeper on its own. It was agreed that the possibility of sharing the routing timetable with residents so that cars parked on the roads could be moved in advance to give sweepers a clearer route would be considered as part of the post leafing review.
It was noted that eight mechanical sweepers and ten street cleansing caged vehicles were, under the terms of the contract, scheduled for renewal and work was underway to explore the range of options available and develop business cases for the preferred options. It was clarified that the vehicles were financed by the individual local authorities and then operated by Amey. It was stressed that whilst electric vehicles were being considered the current range of an electric sweeper was not suitable for the more rural areas and it was imperative that the most appropriate vehicles were purchased for the jobs concerned.
The Committee noted the update.