Decision details

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Resources

Decision status: Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

Decision:

Reasons for the decision:

Alternative options considered:

Publication date: 02/07/2025

Date of decision: 02/07/2025

Effective from: 10/07/2025

This decision has been called in by:

• Councillor Shaun Hughes who writes Reasons for Call In: While we support the need to enhance the city for residents and visitors: This single member decision does not reflect the business and environmental impacts, businesses identified several significant problems with the proposed waste collection changes in central Bath, leading to widespread opposition. The primary issues highlighted by businesses include: Collection Times: • A strong majority of businesses, 93% of respondents, did not support the proposed change to the evening collection window from 5pm-8:45pm to a new time of 6pm-8pm. Staffing Issues and Costs: • 43% of businesses currently close at 5pm and 33% close at 5:30pm. This means no one would be available at their premises to present waste or promptly return containers during the new 6pm-8pm collection window. An analysis of Bath BID businesses showed that 20% close at or before 5:30pm, making morning collections not a viable alternative. • 72% stated that the extra cost of paying staff to stay later to deal with waste would be unfair or unaffordable. • The council acknowledges that this change could "detrimentally affect" already struggling small businesses, with an estimated additional cost of around £3,000 per year per business for staffing, based on an extra hour per day. • We believe the estimated £3,000 cost to businesses has been significantly underestimated. Many local businesses operate seven days a week, and refuse collections occur daily meaning the actual financial impact is likely much higher. • In addition, many independent traders close around 4pm during winter months. Being required to stay open until 6pm means additional staffing costs that go beyond just hourly wages. Premises may also need to remain heated and lit, increasing energy bills. • The figure quoted by B&NES—based on 253 hours at National Minimum Wage fails to account for National Insurance, PAYE tax, or pension contributions. This is a poor and misleading summary that suggests the decision was neither fully planned nor properly thought through. • There is a potential impact on employees living in rural areas with poor availability of evening transport services back home from work. • Risk of waste being left out: The consultation highlighted a risk that the policy change could "undermine the progress made in improving the public realm" if it results in business waste bags being left unattended for extended periods, particularly if businesses close before collections. This could increase the risk of missed collections and fines for businesses if they fail to complete collections within the new two-hour window. Reusable Rubbish Bags (RRBs): • 69% of businesses support the mandated use of Reusable Refuse Bags (RRBs) and see it as a positive step forward. However, the current recommendation fails to address key related issues—namely, the use of food recycling containers, which many businesses have already adopted and which have contributed to the improvements seen in the area. Additionally, no solution has been proposed for the return of containers to premises after collection, a crucial factor in maintaining the visual appeal and cleanliness of the public realm. Labelling: • While 76% of businesses supported the requirement for all waste and recycling to be labelled with the company name and address, 24% did not. Their reasons included finding it unnecessary, concerns about the extra cost for labels, and the additional time needed to label bags. Waste collection Vehicles: • It has clearly been stated by the waste operators that they will need to increase the amount of vehicle movements to work within the restricted collection window. This is backed by B&NES own assessment that they will also struggle to meet the needs of the paying businesses for their service. There is a clear conflict with both our Journey to Net Zero strategy for Bath and CAZ objectives. • More waste collection vehicles in the city centre could"

Accompanying Documents:

• E3620 Decision - Business Waste Collection Changes in Central Bath PDF 97 KB
• E3620 - Business Waste Consultation Changes PDF 636 KB