Minutes:
Changes to Bin Collections
J Wells provided background information on why the changes to bin collections in the Borough are necessary. The Council is currently working on the route mapping work for the changed collections, with an overarching plan of households retaining their same collection days. There may be some changes for communal bins but garden waste collections will be unaffected. The decision to make the change was made by the Council as part of a wider scheme of cost savings the Council has had to undertake; this is linked to a reduction in funding from central government.
Residents expressed a concern that waste will build up, including recycling, in bins. There was an opportunity recently for residents to purchase a 240ltr bin for £38.00 if they have a 140ltr bin.
The previous Government put forward Waste Reforms where they encouraged Councils to retain fortnightly collections; some Councils were looking at three-weekly collections.
From the end of March 2026 there will be a separate food waste collection provided as part of national reforms to waste collection. For businesses this starts in March 2025.
Legislation around packaging has changed for businesses where they will be encouraged, with financial penalties for not doing so, to reduce the amount of packaging they use for their products. The amount of recyclable packaging should also be considered. Monies raised by fines for businesses should be reinvested in local communities; this was under the previous Government however and it is unclear if it will continue.
Additional information will be made available to residents around what can and can’t be recycled.
A return scheme for single use plastics is also being considered for the near future nationally.
Large cardboard items can be placed next to the recycling bins for collection by the Council’s waste crews instead of filling the bins.
Residents raised concerns that their 240ltr recycling bin is filled weekly and that for fortnightly collections some recycling will end up in black bins. They did note however that they moved from an area with fortnightly collections and that they do work, but they had a larger bin in that area.
Refuse trucks can only take 6-7 tonnes of recycling before it requires emptying, and the transport of the waste to disposal / recycling sites does incur a cost for the Council. Sites can only take so much waste per Council a week before the wagons are required to go to an alternative location which is currently Bardon.
There is no incentive for districts and boroughs to collect waste in individual types (cardboard, metal, etc.) with co-mingling of waste to continue.
A resident raised a query around hard plastics and it was confirmed that they cannot usually be recycled.
Residents asked how the decision around the changes to waste collections was made with the number of concerns raised by residents. It was suggested that this was done under the assumption that any ‘surplus’ waste will be taken to the County Household Waste sites by residents. The changes are in line with waste services that are offered by other Councils within the County, and attempts have been made to identify issues with those services and address them from the outset in the Borough.
Assisted collections were promoted to residents who meet the criteria for them.
A resident asked if the cost-cutting was linked to Government instructions to spend money housing illegal immigrants in their communities. Cllr. Boulter confirmed that there were around 50 families in temporary accommodation in the Borough from all backgrounds that the Council is funding, and that there are no illegal immigrants housed in the Borough by the Council. If there were then this would be funded by central government and not local authorities.
Several years ago 70% of the costs of running the Borough was provided by central government but the majority of these costs must now be raised within the Borough through tax and reduced services.
The amount of recycling and other waste collected on the fortnightly basis must be weighed as per current arrangements and any large changes that may prompt change in the service will be assessed.
A redundancy plan is in place within the waste team where at least 5 redundancies are expected. A reduction in the number of vehicles operated will take place. Current vehicles do 2 miles to a gallon.
A presentation from the County Council will be made at the next meeting of the Forum around recycling as LCC holds the contract for disposal of waste; OWBC are the collection agency.
Spion Kop
Still planned for a four month closure next year.
It is not possible to lower the track due to the water table.
The removal of the middle of the bridge was considered as a shorter operation but it is unclear if this is possible.
Power to trains could also be potentially picked up from the other side of the bridge but Network Rail are uncertain if this is possible.
Roadworks are also planned for Station Road this coming August with a suggestion made that this is paused until the bridge is closed. Temporary lights are currently being installed at Pullman Road however so it appears the work will be going ahead as planned.
Residents expressed concerns that following the sinkhole that closed Blaby Road recently it has been proven that South Wigston is not equipped to deal with road closures of this magnitude; the Fairfield Estate will be gridlocked. It was noted however that the official diversion for the road closure must utilise the same type of roads as is being closed so the Fairfield Estate will only be utilised by drivers with local knowledge.
Tesco, Wickes and Lidl will struggle to trade with the bridge being closed and it is unclear if Network Rail has been in contact with them.