The report outlines a suggested topic submitted by a resident for consideration by the Place Overview and Scrutiny Panel.

Topics can be suggested by residents through the RBWM website, with appropriate topics brought to the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Panel for further consideration.

The suggested topic received was as follows: “In hot weather surely waste bins should be collected every week as rats are everywhere in broad daylight. Rats are everyone; outside the library, my garden, my mum's garden and Alexander Gardens.”

It is recommended that the Place Overview and Scrutiny Panel notes the report and does not recommend a further consideration of seasonal changes to the frequency of waste collections.

Alysse Strachan, Head of Neighbourhood Services, said that a suggestion had been received from a resident on bin collections. The resident had felt that bin collections should be weekly, particularly in hot weather, as they had noticed that there was an increase in rats. Responding to the topic, Alysse Strachan said that collections could not be altered for a temporary period as this would require significant additional resource. The main part of the problem was the rats which had been sited, this would be more likely due to food waste and this collection was done weekly all year round. The Environmental Health team had also responded and had been visiting businesses in the vicinity of the affected area to ensure that trade waste was being handled and dealt with correctly. At the current time, it was recommended that waste collections were not increased during the summer period.

Councillor Kashmir Singh noted that there were areas of his ward which had not had their waste collected for over two weeks. He felt that there were issues with the report it tool on the website.

Councillor Carpenter asked whether the resident was referring to waste in bags or in large bins, it would be difficult for rats to get into large waste bins. In Windsor, some residents had bag collections and these were still weekly.

Alysse Strachan said that this was not confirmed either way, as long as residents secured waste properly within bins there should not be any issues.

Councillor Gurch Singh said that he had not been supportive of the original decision to move to fortnightly collections. In his ward of St Marys, there were a number of flats and houses of multiple occupants and they had waste collected weekly, which was good to see. He felt that most residents were sensible when it came to sorting their waste, however he thought that there was an issue with rats in Maidenhead. Councillor Gurch Singh considered whether it would be worth looking at the pest control offer which the council could provide for residents.

Alysse Strachan said that Environmental Health had visited all the food commercial businesses in the area and a review had been undertaken in the surrounding parks and green spaces. A pest control service was provided by the council and there were concessionary rates for those on income support and various other support schemes.

Pat McDonald, Co-optee, asked if it was known how much it was costing the council to catch rats.

ACTION – Alysse Strachan to ask the Environmental Health team how much pest control cost for the council.

Councillor Grove had recently noted that it was possible for residents to apply for a second food waste bin, this should be communicated to residents so that they knew it was option.

Alysse Strachan suggested that this could be advertised on the website again, the team were looking to recruit some extra officers who would be able to help educate residents on the options possible in tackling waste and recycling effectively. However, a second food waste bin was not the preferred choice as this was a significant amount of food waste for one household and waste minimisation would be explored first.

Councillor Baskerville asked what the situation was for residents who had damaged black bins which  needed to be replaced and if there was a stock of them. He had heard of one case from a resident who had been offered a smaller black bin by the council.

Alysse Strachan confirmed that there was a stock of black bins, if a bin was damaged residents were encouraged to apply for a replacement by completing a report it form.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Place Overview and Scrutiny Panel noted the report and did not recommend a further consideration of seasonal changes to the frequency of waste collections.