This council recognises that the decision by the Labour administration to enter into the current waste and street cleaning contract with Veolia has had many negative ramifications for Merton residents. Due to continued failures by Veolia, residents lost confidence in the waste collection and street cleaning service as streets were not kept clean, missed collections occurred, fly tipping was not cleared and graffiti was not cleaned.
This council believes that residents must have confidence in any new arrangement that the Labour administration enters. The future contract must deliver:
· Stronger contract management with officers having the confidence to use step in clauses.
· A waste collection service that responds to the concerns of residents.
· Clean streets across the borough.
· Ensure that all property types have on time collections.
· Immediate removal of fly tipping.
· Make recycling easier and more accessible to the public.
· The flexibility to deliver a great service for all parts of the borough.
Therefore, council calls upon the cabinet to convene a Merton Assembly once the terms of the new waste and street cleaning contract are known.
The Merton Assembly will:
- Be open to all residents and interested parties to attend.
- Be held in public and broadcast live on the Merton Council YouTube channel.
- Allow the Labour administration to present their plans to the public.
- Allow residents and other interested parties the opportunity to question council officers and cabinet members about the details of any new arrangement.
- Hold a vote on whether the assembly supports the new proposals.
Cllr Nick McLean Cllr Daniel Holden Cllr Thomas Barlow
