Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

 

“1.0      Purpose of Report/Summary of Main Issues

 

1.1       The purpose of this report is to inform the Committee of:

 

                                         i        the recovery operations and practices in place to mitigate the transmission of Covid-19 in relation to the Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs); and

 

                                        ii        the impact of Covid-19 regulations on the delivery of services and access to bookings at Council community centres.

 

2.0       Recommendations

 

2.1       The Committee is asked to:

 

·        note the report on HWRCs; and

 

·        note the outlined restrictions in place due to Covid-19 regulations and the extent of service delivery and bookings being delivered at community centres.

 

3.0       Main Report

 

3.1       The Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, on 19th November, agreed that a report be submitted to its next meeting addressing the issues which had been raised by Members around gaining access to Household Waste Recycling Centres and Community Centres and providing details of Covid-19 restrictions which were still in place across the Council and their impact upon service delivery.

 

            Background to HWRCs

 

3.2       In March 2020, the Covid-19 global pandemic struck, resulting in the first national lockdown, regulations on essential travel only and a working from home directive, measures all aimed at containing the transmission of the virus.

 

3.3       HWRCs were closed for a period of around 8 weeks (mid-March to mid-May 2020) and in the intervening period a recovery plan was developed.  This required Local Authorities and contractors to adjust their operational arrangements to ensure that these services were restored and the risk to public health minimised through; hygiene (wash hands often), social distancing and ‘catch it - bin it’ messages.

 

3.4       This resulted in a number of adaptations to our operating practices at the HWRCs including:

 

·        Proof of address may be requested as the sites will only be open for those living within the Belfast City Council area. Examples of proof of address include driving licence, utility bill (gas, electricity, broadband supplier), or bank statement;

 

·        Separation of general waste and recycling before arriving at the recycling centre, to reduce delays;

 

·        Vans and light goods vehicles bringing domestic waste on site must book before visiting a recycling centre;

 

·         Further details on the booking system available on the web site and details highlighted below;

 

·        Site visitors will be responsible for unloading their waste to maintain social distancing from staff; and

 

·        If self-isolating or symptomatic of coronavirus (COVID-19) you should not visit a recycling centre or civic amenity site.

 

3.5       It should be noted that the recovery plan was a phased approach with the four recycling centres opening initially followed by the civic amenity sites.  This was to ensure that sufficient staffing resources were available to operate the sites.  The civic amenity sites have one additional operational practice currently in place to mitigate against Covid-19 transmission, while at the same time maintaining service provision.

 

·        For Civic Amenity sites, no vehicles permitted direct access to the CA sites.  Users are requested to park up and bring waste onto site. For larger items residents should avail of recycling centres.

 

            Bookings for Vans at HWRC

 

3.6       When the HWRCs re-opened in May 2020, there was an initial period of approximately 8 weeks when vans and light goods vehicles were not permitted on site. However, this was relaxed in July 2020 with the introduction of the booking system.  Customers can now view the web site to check if their vehicle needs to be booked in advance.  Online booking system for vans and light goods vehicles (belfastcity.gov.uk).

 

3.7       It is a very simple procedure to book a vehicle online as the system captures the email and vehicle details (make and colour) of the customer.  An email confirmation is then issued to the customer and they bring this along on their visit.  The site staff receive a daily print-out of bookings and can thereby control site access and traffic.  This enables residents to access a digital solution and is an increasingly common service delivery platform being adopted by many councils and ties in with the council’s aim to seek IT driven solutions. 

 

3.8       When introduced in July 2020, there were initially 704 booking slots per week across the four sites.  In the summer of 2021, this increased to 1,128 slots per week to meet demand and the average booking demand currently sits at approximately 75%, with slots generally available within 24 hours.

 

3.9       The online booking system greatly assists with maintaining social distancing measures and traffic management at the sites.  In the absence of such a system an influx of commercial type vehicles onto a site can result in a number of challenges:

 

·        traffic management - these vehicles can block skip access and be on site for extended periods of time as they deposit their substantial waste load, meaning much lower throughput for cars and possible queues on main roads which could potentially result in site closure by PSNI;

 

·        capacity issues with skips filling faster and not being available to those residents accessing the site in household cars;

 

·        potential health and safety issues - associated with larger box type vehicles and those with tail lifts. These vehicles are also more likely to carry additional personnel, resulting in further social distancing challenges; and

 

·        Potential trade misuse – the HWRCs are for the disposal of household waste only. Commercial waste comprises waste produced by a business or commercial activity in the course of its operations.  A commercial operator disposing of commercial waste at a HWRC is placing an additional burden on the domestic rate payer and a potential income loss for the Council in terms of a commercial waste customer.

 

3.10      In addition to the above, this control measure is welcomed by staff as it provides improved traffic management and customer engagement at the site and the potential for reduced work-related violence when site visitors become accustomed to the system.

 

3.11      The Service believes the online booking system has been invaluable supporting customer and staff safety during Covid and continues to do so.  The customer and operational benefits resulting from these changes at the HWRCs are being reviewed and considered for inclusion within the proposed Waste Access and Acceptance policy presently being developed by the Service.  The current software is a relatively basic system and the Service will consider how it could be developed to drive positive behaviours, increased recycling along with improved health and safety.

 

            Community Centres

 

3.12      All Community Centres are fully operational with services and bookings permitted in line with current regulations and guidelines.  Detailed risk assessments are in place for building operations all of which are approved through Corporate Health and Safety and Trade Unions prior to commencing operations.  As restrictions are eased activity specific risk assessments are taken though the recovery assurance protocols to ensure safe and compliant service delivery.

 

3.13      General restrictions in place which affect community centre operations and activities include a requirement for service users to restrict access when exhibiting symptoms of coronavirus and to self-isolate; mandatory use of face coverings; practicing social distancing; and hand sanitising.

 

3.14      Some centres have seen a decrease in the number of bookings. This decrease is mainly due to:

 

1.      Covid anxiety/worry particularly with bookings involving older people or health related;

 

2.      On-line/virtual contacts replacing booking at centre e.g. counselling sessions;

 

3.      Groups ‘folded’ during lock down;

 

4.      Some bookings have cancelled due to the Covid related restriction on room capacity

 

            In respect to item (4) above, the requirement to adhere to social distancing requires application of maximum room capacities and overall building capacity.  Safe management of the specific building and room capacities requires access control through the buzzer system and is afforded only for specific bookings or pre-arranged appointments e.g. designated staff and contractors.   Drop-in and casual access to the buildings are not permitted.

 

3.15      There have been some comments from user groups on the requirement for bookers to have their own risk assessments in place prior to commencing activity following easement of restrictions.  To mitigate this concern capacity support is provided to groups and in many instances the groups have noted that the exercise in developing their risk assessment is beneficial and provides assurance to many of their members.

 

3.16      Most recently, approval for independently delivered bookings related to dance and provided hospitality e.g. tea dances and Christmas dinners have been approved through the recovery assurance protocol.  Risk assessments for staff supported activities of these types have been drafted and are being processed through the recovery assurance protocol. 

 

            Financial and Resource Implications

 

3.17      There are no financial or resource implications associated with this report.

 

            Equality or Good Relations Implications /

            Rural Needs Assessments

 

3.18      There are no equality or good relations issues associated with this report.”

 

            The Committee noted the contents of the report.