Agenda item

Plastic free Communities in Sefton

It was moved by Councillor Roscoe, seconded by Councillor Howard that:

The Council passed a motion at its meeting held on 19 July 2018, to reduce the use of single use plastics (SUP) in order to protect our Borough, particularly our coastal environment.

Since then the Council have made significant progress:  

·       Requiring new concessions stalls (e.g. ice cream vans) to be plastic free – no longer using plastic straws, stirrers, cups, cutlery, bags etc and only selling bottles which are 100% recyclable. 

·       Providing guidance to support businesses and community groups to reduce SUP.

·       Considering SUP in tender evaluation (social value) on high value purchases.

·       Promoting the reduction in SUP (including balloon/lantern releases) with our communities, including taking part in the recent ‘plastic free July’ campaign.

·       Removing single use plastic, such as tea and coffee sachets, from our office spaces.

The onset of the global pandemic and the associated reliance this has brought on SUP (e.g. face masks, test kits, gloves) is a cause for concern. However, the desire to recover from the pandemic in a way which helps and protect the environment is real. For example, a Generation Sea survey found that the pandemic had increased people’s appreciation for the environment by 79% and 63% of respondents planned to decrease their personal consumptions of plastic going forward. 

Therefore, the Council resolves to strengthen the original SUP motion passed in 2018 and build on the good work which has been done to date. This motion supports the Councils aspiration to gain ‘Plastic Free Community’ status – particularly in Waterloo and Crosby. This is a community network across the UK working together to tackle SUP from beaches and green spaces. The Plastic Free Community status is governed by Surfers Against Sewerage who require three pledges. 

To become part of the Plastic Free Community the Council would be required to provide a representative to sit on the Plastic Free Community Steering Group. This is a small group of local volunteers and businesses who meet at least twice a year to discuss SUP reduction progress locally and report back to Surfers Against Sewerage.

The Council believes that the reduction of SUP would benefit health in Sefton, reduce waste and ultimately help protect our coast. Becoming part of the Plastic Free Community would further enhance this.

The Council be recommended to:

1.    continue to lead by example and remove single-use plastic items from its premises and operations;

2.    continue to encourage plastic-free initiatives in the area; promoting the Plastic Free Community campaign and supporting events;  

3.    appoint Councillor Diane Roscoe as the Council’s representative to sit on the Plastic Free Community Steering Group; and

4.    request the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services to report progress of recommendations (1) – (3) above to future Meetings of the Cabinet for approval.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Evans, seconded by Councillor Pugh that:

Following the words in 'This Council be recommended to', add in the following after point 2:

“3. encourage supermarkets and local shops to provide the facilities for soft plastics recycling, including plastic carrier bags;”

And amend point 3 to be point 4 and amend point 4 to be point 5 and to read recommendations (1) - (4).

Following a debate and on a show of hands, the Mayor declared the amendment was lost by 44 votes to 7 with 6 abstentions.

Thereafter, on a show of hands, the Mayor declared the Motion was carried by 57 votes to 0 and it was:

RESOLVED: That:

the Council passed a motion at its meeting held on 19 July 2018, to reduce the use of single use plastics (SUP) in order to protect our Borough, particularly our coastal environment.

Since then the Council have made significant progress:  

·       Requiring new concessions stalls (e.g. ice cream vans) to be plastic free – no longer using plastic straws, stirrers, cups, cutlery, bags etc and only selling bottles which are 100% recyclable. 

·       Providing guidance to support businesses and community groups to reduce SUP.

·       Considering SUP in tender evaluation (social value) on high value purchases.

·       Promoting the reduction in SUP (including balloon/lantern releases) with our communities, including taking part in the recent ‘plastic free July’ campaign.

·       Removing single use plastic, such as tea and coffee sachets, from our office spaces.

The onset of the global pandemic and the associated reliance this has brought on SUP (e.g. face masks, test kits, gloves) is a cause for concern. However, the desire to recover from the pandemic in a way which helps and protect the environment is real. For example, a Generation Sea survey found that the pandemic had increased people’s appreciation for the environment by 79% and 63% of respondents planned to decrease their personal consumptions of plastic going forward. 

Therefore, the Council resolves to strengthen the original SUP motion passed in 2018 and build on the good work which has been done to date. This motion supports the Councils aspiration to gain ‘Plastic Free Community’ status – particularly in Waterloo and Crosby. This is a community network across the UK working together to tackle SUP from beaches and green spaces. The Plastic Free Community status is governed by Surfers Against Sewerage who require three pledges. 

To become part of the Plastic Free Community the Council would be required to provide a representative to sit on the Plastic Free Community Steering Group. This is a small group of local volunteers and businesses who meet at least twice a year to discuss SUP reduction progress locally and report back to Surfers Against Sewerage.

The Council believes that the reduction of SUP would benefit health in Sefton, reduce waste and ultimately help protect our coast. Becoming part of the Plastic Free Community would further enhance this.

The Council be recommended to:

1.  continue to lead by example and remove single-use plastic items from its premises and operations;

2.    continue to encourage plastic-free initiatives in the area; promoting the Plastic Free Community campaign and supporting events;  

3.    appoint Councillor Diane Roscoe as the Council’s representative to sit on the Plastic Free Community Steering Group; and

4.    request the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services to report progress of recommendations (1) – (3) above to future Meetings of the Cabinet for approval.