13 October (Part 1) - Places. Cabinet Member’s report
I should perhaps mention following the microphone debacle at the General
Purposes meeting that the audio is now fixed and very noticeably improved when
heard on my computer sound system.
Councillor Rags Sandhu Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Culture said
that despite the hot weather Country Style had not encountered any
serious
issues. 6,000 new food caddies had been distributed following direct engagement
with residents. Food recycling has increased by 24%.
The Government has gone back on its plans for the recycling of soft plastics. A
dust cart has been converted to a classroom to educate children, presumably
about recycling rather than mathematics. Weed spraying was completed on schedule.
Danson Park and Royal Park (Footscray) children’s playground equipment has been
replaced, the latter following vandalism. There were three musical events in
Danson Park this year. The dry summer made
the
old excuse of poor ground conditions which led to the permanent
cancellation of The Danson Festival, untenable.
Councillor June Slaughter (Conservative, Sidcup) asked why the recycling of soft
plastics has been deferred by DEFRA. The Cabinet Member didn’t know; it is just
another unfathomable policy decision but Bexley is so advanced that it has been
chosen to be one of the pilots should the scheme be resurrected.
Councillor Donna Briant (Labour, Slade Green) had heard that soft plastics was
delayed because the recycling facility had gone off line or similar.
Councillor Chris Ball (Labour, Erith) estimated that 100% food recycling could
be worth £2 million a year. How much is the 24% increase worth? There was no
direct answer but all the food collected is worth about £770,000. The Cabinet Member said “it
takes it out of the incinerator” which is a bold claim given that all mine goes
into the compost heap.
On average the green lidded general waste bins still contain around 60% of recyclable materials
and Bexley remains stuck at third on the list of best London recycling boroughs.