Agenda item

            The Committee considered the following report:

“1.0     Purpose of Report

1.1      This report is to provide Members with an update on the partnership-working with (i) Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful (KNIB) to deliver several programmes, and (ii) The Conservation Volunteers (TCV).

1.2      Specifically, this report is seeking approval to continue funding the Eco-Schools Programme and to endorse the approach used for the clean-up operations carried out by TCV in Poleglass.  The funding for KNIB will be used to ensure that more schools achieve a Green Flag award, thereby ensuring that pupils develop and maintain an excellent knowledge of environmental and recycling considerations which affect schools, Belfast and the planet. 

1.3      There are 185 schools in Belfast and, in terms of the Green Flag award they have achieved the following: 38 x Green Flag (excl 23 which have lapsed), 39 x Silver Flag, 22 x Bronze Flag and 63 x no award.

2.0      Recommendations

2.1      The Committee is asked to;

·        Approve the continued funding of the KNIB Eco-School programme and ‘The Wheelie Big Challenge’ at a cost of £18,158 in 2017/18;

·        Endorse the Service Level Agreement approach being used by Waste Management to accept waste collected by TCV during daily clean-up operations around Poleglass, inherited under local government reform.

3.0      Main report & Key Issues

            Eco-Schools

3.1      Eco-Schools is an international programme which seeks to harmonise environmental education and protection across the globe.  Since 2012/13, the Service has been using this programme to broadcast its recycling message to all schools in Belfast.  Successes to date include having every school now registered as an Eco-School participant, and a continual flow of schools moving through the award system with the ultimate goal of attaining the highest award – the Green Flag.

3.2      Using Eco-Schools allows Waste Management to ensure that the recycling message is delivered consistently to schools, while at the same time the Service’s Education Officers can focus on engaging with other community groups and ensuring that there is effective and consistent communication with schools, householders, communities and businesses across the city.

3.3      To date, KNIB and Waste Management have agreed a work programme to ensure that the quality of communication is maintained and progress reports are provided on a regular basis. 

3.4      Additionally, working with KNIB, the Service has designed an annual schools competition called ‘The Wheelie Big Challenge’ which is a team competition focusing on practical activities to reduce waste and increase recycling in the school.  It is aimed to be more inclusive than the usual schools’ environmental competitions as entries are not judged simply on how well they deliver a presentation, but on the quality of the recycling actions carried out.  Last year, over 35 schools took part.

3.5      In recent years, in June the ‘Wheelie Big Challenge’ is held in the City Hall as part of a celebratory event for schools who have achieved their Green Flag.

            The Conservation Volunteers

3.6      The former Department of Social Development (DSD) now Department for Communities have a contract in place with TCV, to carry out environmental improvement initiatives and ensure fly-tipped waste is collected and disposed of in an environmentally sound manner from DSD lands in the Poleglass area.

3.7      As part of the Local Government Reform (LGR) process, in order to ensure service continuity and avoid TCV from being compromised arising from LGR[1], the Council entered into a Service Level Agreement (SLA) to receive these materials[2].  This agreement allows TCV to use Blackstaff Household Recycling Centre to deposit waste and recyclable materials collected from the Poleglass area.  In line with their previous agreement with Lisburn City Council, and the Council’s current charges applied to charities for the collection/disposal of waste, a discounted gate fee is charged for the use of this site.

3.8      The existing DSD-contract with the TCV ends in May next year and, in order to provide continuity of disposal arrangements, the Service is now proposing to enter into a new SLA from 31 Mar 2017 for the 2017/18 year, with an option of a one year extension.  A draft copy of the SLA is appended to this report. To date, the SLA has worked well and played a positive role in removing an estimated 560 tonnes of fly-tipped material from this area, contributing to a cleaner, greener city.  The SLA also supports a full-time team of five Community Wardens within TCV.

3.9      The value of the SLA with TCV is approximately £14,500 and as such the Service is seeking endorsement of its approach in continuing to develop this partnership with the Conservation Volunteers.

3.10     Financial & Resource Implications

            The cost of £18,158 to run the Eco-Schools Programme and ‘The Wheelie Big Challenge’ can be met from within the Service’s agreed 2017/18 budget.

3.11     The SLA with TCV generates approximately £14,500 income for the Council.”

            The Committee adopted the recommendations.