Ernie Clark. Hilperton Division, Wiltshire Council.

I'm glad it's not 1st April. No one would believe this ...

Wiltshire Council has sent the following info to councillors. It's good to see that the important things in life aren't overlooked at our super-council!!

Please don't blame me for the grammar.

'FOCSA Safety Guidance regarding Excess Waste and Bin Lid Closed. Update 24th March 2010 1100hrs.

A meeting took place this morning between Focsa – Nicky Towell – Contract Manager and Mark Rowe – Senior Supervisor, and Wiltshire Council Martin Litherland – Head of Waste Collection (designate), Melanie Scott – Area Manager West and Gareth Jones – Acting Waste and Recycling Manager.

It was agreed that the Safety Guidance will be reviewed and re-issued by Focsa.

In the meantime the following was agreed to overcome the problem which has occurred this week due to the Safety Guidance issued by Focsa head office stating that wheeled bins with the lid open would not be collected:

• The crew will assess if the bin lid can be closed. If the lid will push closed without resistance by the placing of a hand on the lid, the bin will be collected.

• If the bin fails this test but the offending waste is contained in a bag and it can be safely removed, the bag will be removed and left beside the bin with an advice sticker attached and ticked accordingly. The contents of the bin will be emptied. The sticker on the bags will be notification to the householder that if in the future the bin lid is not closed, it will not be emptied. The property will be recorded on Focsa’s Vtech system which CSU have access to.

• If the waste can not be safely removed the bin will not be collected, but will have an advice sticker attached. As per existing procedures. This will be notification to the householder that if in the future the bin lid is not closed, it will not be emptied. The property will be recorded on Focsa’s Vtech system which CSU have access to.

The crews will be adhering to this with effect from Thursday 25th March. The Safety Guidance will be reviewed and reissued by Focsa by 1st May 2010.

Wiltshire Council will publicise the outcome of this Guidance before this date.

In the meantime for collections which took place Monday 22nd, Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th March ONLY the following will apply:

If the householder says that there was no advice sticker on the bin this will be treated as a missed bin and Focsa will return to empty bin. This will be completed by Friday 26th March for all calls received by the end of Thursday 25th.

If there was a sticker attached the crew will go back and empty the bin once the householder has removed the excess waste. Excess waste will not be collected.

Melanie Scott – Area Manager West. 24th March 2010.'

If you ever wonder why our council tax is so high, have a look back earlier in this piece and count how many people were needed at a meeting to come to this important decision. FIVE! Three from WC and two from the contractor. Still, you can't be too careful when dealing with something as important as this, can you!