Agenda and minutes

Consider Minute of the Meeting held on 8 December 2022 for approval and signature by the Chair.  (Copy attached.)

1.1      Copies of the Minute of Meeting held on 8 December 2022 had been circulated.  

DECISION

APPROVED the Minute for signature by the Chair.

Consider updated Scrutiny Business Action Sheet.  (Copy attached.)

            Copies of the Action Tracker for Scrutiny decisions had been circulated.  With reference to item 2 from 9 December 2021, regarding the Rural Proofing Policy, the date for presentation to Committee had now been changed to 20 April 2023, to allow work to tie in with other reviews underway e.g. Integrated Impact Assessment. 

DECISION

NOTED the dates where outstanding actions would be considered.

Consider presentation by Waste Collection Manager and Senior Communications and Marketing Offer. 

2.1      With reference to Paragraph 1.2 of the Minute of 8 December 2022, Adam Drummond, Senior Communications and Marketing Officer, presented an update on the Council’s Climate Change Communications.  In working towards the Net Zero target, it had been challenging to develop and sustain the level of communications required due to multiple competing priorities and staff vacancies.  The recent recruitment of a Climate Change Officer was to result in more effective communications with internal and external audiences henceforth.  A brief overview of the plan was presented to Members which would provide an easily accessible, web based source of information and plans on the action of Scottish Borders Council towards its Net Zero Commitments; to raise awareness, signpost to resources, highlight best practice and support behavior and cultural change internally and externally related to the climate emergency, and to work with national and local partners.  The initial web content was in its final stages and was to be published shortly.  Climate emergency training had been rolled out internally and 1800 staff had completed the e-learning module on Climate Change.  This was to be an area of focus in the coming months.

2.2       Ross Sharp-Dent, Waste Manager, then presented an update on the Waste and Recycling Campaign.  This initiative, as part of the Climate Change communications Plan, aimed to encourage positive behavior change, to increase recycling performance and to reduce the amount of recyclable waste going into general waste bins (currently at 76%).  The previously delayed campaign had launched in December 2022 to coincide with the festive collection communications and was disseminated via social media platforms, Councillor and Community Council briefings, posters and a press release.  A staff video had also been produced.  The Council web page had been updated with a new ‘missed bin’ service whereby the public were apprised of missed collections reported by the waste crews and subsequent remedial action to be taken.  The results of an information gathering survey conducted in January 2022 had now been published.  The survey had highlighted public confusion as to the type of refuse permitted in the different bins.  It was confirmed that excess recyclate could be put out alongside the blue bin for collection, although that needed to be in a clear or white bag tied at the top.  No black bags could be used for recyclate, as there was an assumption that this could contain ordinary waste so would be contaminated and the sorting machine did not recognise black bags so these would be rejected.  Large cardboard boxes could be flattened and also left out for collection.

2.3       A summary of planned initiatives was provided: the Primary Schools Waste and Recycling Resource was to be launched in conjunction with Levenseat (General Waste Contractor) in March 2023 and contained online lesson plans, activities and games; a Community Engagement Review to maximise community involvement; and ‘Recollect’ - a one year trial of a web app to be rolled out in March/April 2023.  The interface allowed the public to type in an item and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

Consider briefing note by Clerk to the Council.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of a briefing note by the Clerk to the Council, the purpose of which was to provide Members with details of the proposed process for future Scrutiny reviews.  The Clerk to the Council gave an explanation of the work of the Scrutiny and Petitions Committee: to monitor the Authority’s performance in achieving policy objectives and priorities; to review the Council’s effectiveness against agreed standards, targets and budgets; and to act as a focus for value for money and service quality exercises.  Subjects for review were to be brought to the Clerk by members of the Committee and other Elected Members; this was to be submitted via email with no need for a rationale to be completed at this stage and reviews could be focussed and specific. Further explanation was provided as to how proposals for review were to be initially assessed for inclusion in a Programme of Work.  With a focus on their strategic role, Members had the authority to objectively scrutinise the delivery of a project against a plan, or a benefit realisation against a target, according to set criteria.  The review would proceed in one of three ways initially: an Information Hearing whereby officers or representatives made a presentation; a more focussed Hearing where questions would be submitted in advance and supplemented by further queries to delve deeper, with a Working Group convened to probe further still; or a Working Group would be convened immediately to take matters forward.  Oversight of a Working Group was to be ensured through the approval of their remit by the Scrutiny & Petitions Committee.  Due attention was to be given to the scale and number of reviews at any given time to ensure reviews were adequately resourced and proportionate across the service.  The Clerk to the Council had received one subject for review to date.  It was suggested that one Working Group at a time was convened; this could be either for a short term of a few months or longer up to a year.  There was general agreement that each Committee member proposed one subject for review before the next meeting on 20 April 2023.  The Clerk to the Council would also write out to all Members and Community Councils asking for any subjects for review.

DECISION

NOTED the briefing and AGREED to each Committee member submitting one subject for review before the next meeting.