Limits agreed on annual tip trips but you could appeal

PEOPLE could be able to appeal if 12 visits a year to Raynesway tip are not enough for them, as part of the proposal for retaining the current booking system.

Derby City Council cabinet agreed to the recommendation put forward by its executive scrutiny committee, which examined plans to make the permit booking system a permanent feature from next spring.

The cabinet also agreed to look into the possibility of including cargo cycles and cycles with trailers to be able to bring materials to the site.

But not before there were strong words exchanged between councillors during the virtual broadcast of Wednesday night’s cabinet meeting, which discussed maintaining a permanent booking system.

During the first lockdown, the booking system was introduced to control the numbers of people wanting to take household waste to the Raynesway recycling centre. The cabinet now wants to retain it to prevent traders dumping waste, prevent people from outside the city and county using the site and keep congestion down – but restrict it to 12 visits a year.

The city’s Labour group wants to see the permit system abolished because it says the amount of waste being left at the centre has fallen and incidents of fly-tipping increased since its introduction in May.

Councillor Baggy Shanker, leader of the Labour group, told the meeting: “Waste tonnages have plummeted and fly-tipping has increased and this is nothing more than a service cut. I urge the cabinet to pull this paper.”

Mr Shanker also queried a claim in the cabinet report that the council would save £150,000 with the permit system, but said this figure was £300,000 in the newly published council budget for next year. His inquiry remained unanswered and Mr Shanker called the action “shoddy” in not allowing questions.

Independent councillor Phil Ingall attempted to ask a question, but was told he had no right to do so, much to his disagreement.

Councillor Alan Graves, leader of the Reform Derby Party, who did have a right to speak, said: “I am disappointed we are sticking with the permit system. Queuing has gone at Raynesway, but there is more fly-tipping because people cannot easily access the waste centre. One of the things people cannot do is cancel an appointment once made because the system does not allow it.

“The system as it stands is not robust enough. It is stopping people from booking at all rather than restricting access. It needs thinking about more.”

The executive scrutiny committee, under chair Councillor Martin Repton – who accused the cabinet of “restricting people’s attempts to recycle” – made five recommendations in total but Councillor Jonathan Smale, council cabinet member for communities, neighbourhoods and Streetpride, only accepted two.

But he did say that he would take Mr Graves’ suggestion on board and ensure people would have the chance to cancel appointments so they would be freed up for others.

Mr Smale said: “I am willing to look at an appeal system if 12 visits are not enough and we will undertake a risk assessment to see how cycles could be brought on to the site safely. People visiting on foot is not allowed.

“But I am nervous about allowing people to pay extra for visits as the service is free, which was suggested by the scrutiny committee.”

Mr Smale was also asked what happened to the Conservative manifesto pledge two years ago to set up a second waste site in the city .

He said: “It is not on the backburner, but it not cheap to do and since we came to power we have had to prioritise such things as the A52 roadworks and the extra expense to complete it.”

Lib Dem group leader Councillor Ruth Skelton said another site was needed as Raynesway was hard to get to for people in some parts of the city. She said: “We should have more compactor days in local areas where people could take their rubbish rather than just dumping it and fly-tipping.” These are where a compactor visits different suburbs and people can take their household and garden waste along. They were stopped when the pandemic struck, but Mr Smale said they will be returning in spring 2021.

He said: “I challenge those opposed to the booking system to see where we are three months after it becomes permanent.”

The cabinet approved the permit booking system becoming permanent with the two added recommendations being taken on board.