The minutes of the meeting held on 24 March 2022 were submitted and approved and the Chair was authorised to sign them as a correct record.

An apology for absence was reported from visiting member, Councillor Julian Peterson.

Disclosure by councillors of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the councillor regards the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

None were declared.

Report of Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor William Meyer

(Non-key decision):

(1) To note the progress of the Council’s housing delivery programme as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

(2) To support the progression of the initial phase of sites identified within the HRA from the internal Asset Review to be taken through the feasibility and due diligence processes, utilising existing budgets and delegations.

(3) To endorse the formation of an Affordable Housing Design Standard for all future Council housing developments within the district.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Regeneration and Planning, providing an update on the progress of the Council’s housing delivery programme and achievements to date with the targets that had been set.

Thanks were conveyed to officers for their work in producing the report.

Policy and Performance Advisory Committee (PPAC), held on 31 May 2022 considered the report and were supportive of the officer recommendations in full. Councillor Boorman, Chair of Policy and Performance Advisory Committee, was in attendance to present PPAC’s discussion. Part of the discussion at the meeting was around the need for housing in other towns of the district.

Councillor Linington, Leader of the Opposition, also addressed the Cabinet, reiterating comments made at PPAC, and whilst welcoming more Council houses being built, questioned the locations of the houses in areas such as Plumpton and Chailey, with poor public transport links, therefore requiring access to a car and being less sustainable.

Councillor Meyer responded that the properties in Plumpton and Chailey were purchased at a favourable rate and represented an opportunist purchase at the time. The Cabinet would continue to explore opportunities to purchase properties in those areas of the district in need of council housing, whilst also continuing to build sustainable homes.

Resolved (Non-key decision):

(1) To note the progress of the Council’s housing delivery programme as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

(2) To support the progression of the initial phase of sites identified within the HRA from the internal Asset Review to be taken through the feasibility and due diligence processes, utilising existing budgets and delegations.

(3) To endorse the formation of an Affordable Housing Design Standard for all future Council housing developments within the district.

Reason for decisions:

To progress the development of new Council homes across the district, maximising brownfield sites to enable new housing affordable housing opportunities.

Report of Director of Service Delivery

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Julie Carr

(This report contains an exempt appendix. Any discussion of this must take place at item 11 following exclusion of the public.)

(Key decision):

(1) To replace six currently-hired recycling vehicles with second-hand vehicles from summer 2022.

(2) To re-purpose and upgrade the remaining refuse and recycling collection vehicle (RCV) fleet from April 2023, subject to approval by Full Council.

(3) To use renewable diesel as an alternative to regular diesel from April 2023, subject to due diligence.

(4) To procure a new electric vehicle fleet for food waste collections in 2023, subject to approval by Full Council.

(5) To install temporary chargers at the depot in 2023 until such time as charging infrastructure is in situ as part of the depot redevelopment.

(6) To procure an electric vehicle fleet for street cleansing fleet from 2025/26, subject to a further report to Cabinet and Full Council supported by a business case.

(7) To secure zero emission at tailpipe vehicles for the RCV fleet by 2030, to align with the council’s net zero target, subject to a further report to Cabinet and Full Council supported by a business case.

(8) To consider the alternative option in respect of food waste collection, as recommended by Policy and Performance Advisory Committee at its meeting on 31 May 2022. The Cabinet member for recycling, waste and open spaces would write to the Chair of Policy and Performance Advisory Committee, with the outcome of that consideration.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Service Delivery, introducing and seeking their approval for the replacement strategy for the waste and recycling fleet to circa 2035. This was against a backdrop of new and emerging technologies, alternative fuels and energy vectors, the council’s ageing vehicles and net zero 2030 ambition.

Thanks were conveyed to officers and portfolio holders for their work in bringing the report together.

The Policy and Performance Advisory Committee (PPAC) at its meeting on 31 May 2022, made the following recommendation to Cabinet:

To support the officer recommendations in the Cabinet report subject to the following additional recommendation being considered by the Cabinet:

(8) That an alternative option be considered in respect of food waste collection. This would be composed of two dedicated EV food waste vehicles to be used on routes with larger amounts of food waste and the fitting of food waste pods to general refuse collection vehicles to be used on the other routes.

Councillor Boorman, Chair of Policy and Performance Advisory Committee, was in attendance to present PPAC’s discussion. One of the concerns around the proposals set out in the report, was that the administration would be implementing weekly food waste collection and fortnightly waste collection. The Cabinet confirmed that there were no plans to move the waste collection to fortnightly and the reason for officer recommendations were set out in the report.

Councillor Linington, Leader of the Opposition also addressed the Cabinet and reiterated comments made at PPAC and supported their recommendation.

The Cabinet unanimously agreed to consider PPAC’s recommendation, and this was reflected in the additional resolution below.

Resolved (Key decision):

(1) To replace six currently-hired recycling vehicles with second-hand vehicles from summer 2022.

(2) To re-purpose and upgrade the remaining refuse and recycling collection vehicle (RCV) fleet from April 2023, subject to approval by Full Council.

(3) To use renewable diesel as an alternative to regular diesel from April 2023, subject to due diligence.

(4) To procure a new electric vehicle fleet for food waste collections in 2023, subject to approval by Full Council.

(5) To install temporary chargers at the depot in 2023 until such time as charging infrastructure is in situ as part of the depot redevelopment.

(6) To procure an electric vehicle fleet for street cleansing fleet from 2025/26, subject to a further report to Cabinet and Full Council supported by a business case.

(7) To secure zero emission at tailpipe vehicles for the RCV fleet by 2030, to align with the council’s net zero target, subject to a further report to Cabinet and Full Council supported by a business case.

(8) To consider the alternative option in respect of food waste collection, as recommended by Policy and Performance Advisory Committee at its meeting on 31 May 2022. The Cabinet member for recycling, waste and open spaces would write to the Chair of Policy and Performance Advisory Committee, with the outcome of that consideration.

Reason for decisions:

Recommendations to Cabinet for waste and recycling  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.