EX111103-10

Division(s): All

EXECUTIVE – 11 NOVEMBER 2003

Oxfordshire County Council currently provides eight waste recycling centres at which residents can dispose of their household waste. The centres currently receive over 60,000 tonnes of material per annum and a large proportion of this waste is recycled. The County Council has set challenging performance targets and sites are required to achieve 60% recycling rates by the 2005/06 financial year.

Historically, the sites have had varying opening and closing times that have in most cases been influenced by the operation of adjacent County Council landfill sites and site licensing conditions. This report proposes harmonisation of opening hours for all sites, as one step towards achieving the requirement identified in the Waste Management Best Value Review (2001) that an equality of service should be available to all Oxfordshire residents.

It will be noted that three of the sites – Alkerton, Dean Pit and Dix Pit - currently have extended hours during the summer months. To offer this service at all sites would be extremely expensive, could not be accommodated within the existing budget, and also would not be cost effective.

Traffic monitoring equipment is in operation on all sites and monitors traffic use throughout the day. An analysis of this information indicates that although the period from 17.00 hrs to 20.00 hrs represents 26% of total opening hours on these three sites, use by members of the public in that period accounts on average for only 10% of total site use. The contractors for these three sites also have difficulty in finding staff to work later hours.

The contractors have been consulted on the revision of opening hours and have unanimously agreed that 08:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs would be the most suitable and efficient opening times when viewed in conjunction with traffic monitoring data. However, it is acknowledged that there is also a need to offer some provision for late night opening for some site users.

Analysis of available data shows that Thursday evenings would be the most appropriate day to accommodate late operation. It is therefore suggested that all eight sites could operate from 08:00 hrs to 20:00 hrs on Thursdays from April to September each year.

With the proposed changes five of the sites would benefit from increased opening hours, particularly at weekends when most customers visit the sites. Three of the sites would have reduced hours during the summer months but only a relatively small percentage of customers make use of the current late opening hours.

The opening hours are regulated by the individual planning permissions and any variations that the Executive authorises will require the consent of the County Council as Planning Authority, subject to the normal planning consultation procedures..

There will be no direct environmental implications from the result of this decision, although sites will be monitored and any associated problems will be reported to Executive.

The proposed changes would have no effect on staffing levels. Savings from reduction in hours on three sites will offset the additional costs on five.

agree the amendment of the opening hours at Waste Recycling Centres to 08:00 to 17:00 hrs seven days a week all year, except Thursdays from April to September when sites will open from 08:00 to 20:00 hrs;

agree that sites will retain the existing days of closure, namely, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day;

agree that, subject to the relevant planning consents being obtained, the changes will take place from 1 April 2004 or as soon as possible thereafter.

CHRIS COUSINS
Head of Sustainable Development

Background Papers: None

Contact Officers: Tony Brotherton/John Cherry, Tel 01865 815747/815225

October 2003

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