Freedom of information response
Bin collection services query
1. I would like to know the process of deciding to switch to fortnightly refuse collections and were the public consulted at any point?
2. Have there been any public meetings where this was discussed?
3. This is a decision that affects every resident negatively.
4. What is the process to challenge a decision.
1. This process was proposed by a council member-based Cross Party Working Group in response to the government’s strategy to increase recycling within council waste collections. The Waste Strategy for Thurrock was proposed to and adopted by Full Council in November 2021.
2. As part of the creation of this Waste Strategy a full public consultation was carried out which highlighted all of the proposals around both alternate-weekly refuse collections and the introduction of a new and separate food-waste collection service. This consultation was held both online and paper-based.
3. Cabinet decisions can be challenged by being called-in however, the call-in window passed in November 2021.
4. A petition to raise awareness could be sought to change the cabinet decision or the Resident may wish to pursue the Complaints process or approach the Local Government Ombudsman.
You are free to use any information supplied to you for your own use, including non-commercial research purposes. However, any other type of re-use, for example, by publishing the information or issuing copies to the public will require the permission of the copyright owner.
Where the copyright is owned by Thurrock Council, you must apply to the Council to re-use the information. Please email information.matters@thurrock.gov.uk if you wish to re-use the information you have been supplied. For information where the copyright is owned by another person or organisation, you must apply to the copyright owner to obtain their permission.
If you are dissatisfied with the way in which the council have managed your FOI request you can pursue an Internal Review by contacting us using the above email address. Your request will be considered by a senior member of the Information Management Team who will update you with the outcome of the review.
If you remain unhappy following the outcome of your Internal Review you may wish to refer your case to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and details of this organisation can be found at www.ico.org.uk . Please be advised that the ICO will not consider your case until they have confirmation that you have already been through the Internal Review stage with the council.