Garden waste collection permits in high demand
TWO councils have seen a surge in calls due to demand for garden waste collection permits.
The increase has coincided with the launch of new customer portal systems at Stafford Borough and Cannock Chase councils at the end of 2023, which went live with garden waste permits and will see other services added this year.
Annual garden waste collection charges have been in place in Stafford Borough since 2021, and have risen this year from £36 to £42.
Cannock Chase Council introduced its own brown bin charge this year and the collection service costs £38.50 for the annual subscription.
The average call wait time at Cannock Chase Council rose to 2min 53sec between October and December, a report to the latest cabinet meeting revealed. This is above the two minute call wait target and more than double the 1min 18sec average seen between
July and September.
The report said: “The team experienced a significant increase in calls during December as a result of the new charge for garden waste – 2,060 calls taken were (for) chargeable garden waste, which accounts for 30 per cent of all calls taken in December.” Councillor Jacquie Prestwood, resources and transformation portfolio leader, said: “The roll-out of brown bins has so far exceeded expectation and resulted in a higher demand in calls. Additional resources are being allocated.”
At the borough council the average call wait time has remained lower than the two-minute target between March and December, scrutiny committee members heard last week.
The percentage of calls answered dropped from 94 per cent between July and September to 88 per cent between October and December, however.
A report to the Resources Scrutiny Committee said: “December call volumes were very high due to residents signing up for their garden waste subscriptions. 3037 calls for garden waste were taken, which accounted for 40 per cent of our calls.”
The roll-out of brown bins has so far exceeded expectation
Cannock Chase councillor Jacquie Prestwood