Category: News

Unison Round Reorganisation Question – Received 5 October

 

1. How many vehicles do we currently have available for the new round restructure?

 

All vehicles currently used for refuse and recycling collections will remain available for the new rounds. As highlighted in our meetings in October. This is 50 RCVs currently available within the fleet including hire vehicles.

 

2. How many refuse rounds will there be in the new round restructure and what is the staffing numbers?

 

Initially 15 standard refuse rounds were set which included, Driver +2 loaders, 45 staff on each collection day, as highlighted in our meetings in October. Addition resources to balance rounds was expected. At present additional refuse collection rounds are operating on Monday and Tuesday to provide support to crews where problem roads/locations have been identified or round size is emerging as an issue limiting the ability to complete within working time.

 

3. How many recycling rounds will there be in the new round restructure and what is the staffing numbers?

 

Initially 15 standard recycling rounds were set which included, Driver +2 loaders, 45 staff on each collection day, as highlighted in our meetings in October. Addition resources to balance rounds was expected. At present additional refuse collection rounds are operating on Monday and Tuesday to provide support to crews where problem roads/locations have been identified or round size is emerging as an issue limiting the ability to complete within working time.

 

4. How many Trade rounds will there be in the new round restructure and what is the staffing numbers?

 

3 trade rounds, Driver +1 loader, 6 staff as highlighted in our meetings in October

 

5. How many green waste rounds will there be in the new round restructure and what is the staffing numbers?

 

4 garden waste rounds, Driver +2 loaders, 12 staff as highlighted in our meetings in October

 

6. Currently the Hazard vehicle round operates three days a week. Will it still be operating and what are the crew numbers?

 

The hazard vehicle (Impact Protection Vehicle (IPV)) will continue to operate 2 days per week. Driver IPV, Driver+1/2 RCV, as highlighted in our meetings in October.

 

 

7. Impact Vehicle (IPV) currently operates three days a week what is the plan for this service?

 

As above.

 

8. Will there still be a Bin delivery and if so what are the staffing numbers?

 

The bin delivery vehicle will be retained. Driver only. as highlighted in our meetings in October

 

9. How many shunt vehicles will be available on a daily basis?

 

This will vary on daily basis as highlighted in our meetings in October

 

10. What rounds will be getting shunts?

 

This will vary on daily basis as highlighted in our meetings in October

 

11. What is the estimated down time for shunts?

 

Clarification on this question is needed

 

12. How many spare vehicles do we have?

 

This will vary on daily basis as highlighted in our meetings in October

 

13. What are number of locations per round?

 

Clarification on this question is needed.

 

14. How many bins and size per location?

 

Unknown and variable each week/seasonality. Bin lift information being recorded. Barnet Homes bin audit nearing completion.

 

The audit of all Barnet Homes managed properties has been completed. Bin number by type and waste stream at each location are known.

 

15. Please provide the mileage walked by loaders per round?

 

We do not hold this information

 

16. How will flat refuse be collected?

 

As highlighted in our meetings in October refuse from flats contained within communal bins/1100l Euro bins is scheduled be collected on the normal rounds. A round that focusses of the collection of refuse from flats is in the process of being created and will be operational to support collections on Monday and Tuesday each week from Monday 17 November.

17. How will flat recycling be collected?

 

As above.

 

18. What are the days for each postal district?

 

See district/round maps previous circulated

 

19. How are the locations with more than one collection day be collected?

 

The Council policy is for one collection of refuse to be provided per week. Further collections will be chargeable. Both Barnet Home and privately managed developments have been contacted to inform them of the enforcement of this policy and the options for ensuring waste is contained and collected. The majority of managing agents have made contact with the team and contracts will be established for paid additional collections.

 

20. Will there be maps provided for each new round?

 

Maps were provided to crews and feedback has been positive. These have been amended in response to crew feedback and continue to be reproduced to reflect changes made to improve rounds.

 

21. When will public be informed?

 

The communication plan for this service changes was delivered in full. As was set out in our meetings in October An additional postcard was delivered to all street level properties in the week prior to the changes going live and a wrap cover was distributed on the Barnet Times.

 

22. When will staff be consulted and be informed about their round?

 

As was set out in our meetings in October staff have were informed about the round changes and engaged through being talked through the rounds and giving feedback. All staff had the opportunity to view the new rounds over a number of weeks and provide feedback.

 

Dialogue between frontline staff and supervisors/operational managers takes place daily. Feedback is used to make continual improvements to rounds. In addition, comments from round sheets are recorded and where action is necessary this is taken. Dedicated feedback meetings with frontline staff/representatives will be scheduled in December/January.

 

23. What are the contingency plans in the event of failure to collect?

 

Qualified drivers from across the service have been identified to ensure cover for sickness and annual leave. Additional vehicles have been hired to ensure there is cover due to recent breakdowns. Additional support rounds have been organised for Monday and Tuesday, which have been shown to be the heaviest days of the week. Evening shifts have been arranged and will be employed on days when needed.

 

24. What is the plan for the ever growing number of new developments to be incorporated into the new round?

 

The growth in the borough’s population and housing stock was a driver for the round reorganisation. Information on current and projected growth has been provided to the team and incorporated into the new rounds, as was highlighted in our meetings in October.

 

25. Will agency staff still be used?

 

Agency staff will be used if needed however the new rounds should provide capacity within the existing staffing levels to cover work where agency cover would have typically needed to be brought in.

 

26. What are the estimated travelling times for each round to and from depots to the prescribed five postal districts?

 

@ 06:30		Mon (EN5 2BD)		Tue (N12 9EY)		Wed (NW11 7JS)		Thu (NW7 4PU)		Fri (NW4 4BG)
		Time	Distance	Time	Distance	Time	Distance	Time	Distance	Time	Distance
Harrow	HA3 8NT	18 to 28	8.1	20 to 30	8.3	20 to 35	8.3	12 to 20	4.9	14 to 22	5.6
Oakleigh Depot	N11 1HJ	7 to 10	2.9	5 to 8	1.7	12 to 20	5.4	12 to 16	5.2	12 to 24	5.8

 

 

27. What are the estimated tipping times from each area to Hendon or Edmonton?

 

@ 10:00		Mon (EN5 2BD)		Tue (N12 9EY)		Wed (NW11 7JS)		Thu (NW7 4PU)		Fri (NW4 4BG)
		Time	Distance	Time	Distance	Time	Distance	Time	Distance	Time	Distance
Oakleigh Depot – Dry Recycling and Green Waste	N11 1HJ	8 to 16	2.9	6 to 12	1.7	14 to 24	5.4	12 to 20	5.2	16 to 28	5.8
Edmonton – Dry recycling, green waste and residual waste	N18 3AG	24 to 40	9.0	20 to 35	6.6	24 to 45	9.4	28 to 50	11.9	26 to 45	9.9
Hendon Rail Transfer Station – Dry recycling and Residual waste	NW7	20 to 35	9.2	16 to 26	5.5	8 to 12	2.3	12 to 24	5.6	8 to 14	3.0

 

28. Will black sacks be used, if so who will deliver them?

 

Black sacks are not issued by LBB. Some properties where there are access issues and/or lack of frontage are provided with sacks for both refuse and recycling. These are now delivered on request as opposed to regular ‘blanket’ drops.

 

29. Where access for large vehicles is prohibited how far are staff expected to pull bins from bin areas to vehicle?

 

Dynamic risk assessments need to be carried out by crew as required. Where there are concerns around collecting bins these need to be communicated to supervisors for a visit/assessment to be carried out and a solution found as was highlighted in our meetings in October.

 

30. Have risk assessment’s been done for each new round?

 

As agreed at JNCC, route information sheets will be completed by each crew within first month of new service. Known issues on rounds will be prepopulated pre go live.

 

31. Have Round Descriptions been completed for each new round?

 

As above.

 

32. Will the Round Descriptions include the presence potential hazards and restrictions such as;

• Parked Vehicles
• Narrow Lanes
• Steep Slopes
• Pedestrian usage
• Schools/Care Homes and other buildings that may present increase risk, hazards or restrictions
• Poor Lighting or Visibility

 

As above.

 

33. Will the Round Descriptions include the nearest locations of:

• Public/Staff Accessible Toilets
• Hospitals
• Nearest refuelling point (in case of emergency)

 

As above.

 

 

34. Have the rounds been walked and tested?

 

No. As was highlighted in our meetings in October, there is not logistical ability to do this, and is not industry standard.

 

35. What is current overall capacity in tonnage for each existing refuse round per day?

90,710.64t residual household residual waste collected 2017/18

(all vehicles, all sources)

261 working days per year

90,710.64/261 = 347.55t per day across all vehicles

Households

18 RCV x 10t average payload = 180t/360t capacity based on 1/2 tips daily

 

36. What is the overall capacity expected in tonnage for each new refuse round per day?

15 RCV x 10t payload = 150t/300t capacity based on 1/2 tips daily

 

37. What is current overall capacity in tonnage for each existing flat refuse round per day?

 

Included in above figures.

 

38. What is the current overall capacity in tonnage for the existing food waste round per day?

4630.76t food waste collected 2017/18

4630.76/261 = 17.74t per day

 

39. What is the current overall capacity in tonnage for RATS/FLASH collection rounds per day?

N/A.

40. What is the current overall tonnage for each existing recycling round per day?

31,480.22t Household dry recycling collected 2017/18

31,480.22/261 = 120.61t per day

16 RCV x 10t payload x 1 tip per day = 160t/320t capacity based on 1/2 tips daily

 

41. What is the overall capacity expected tonnage for each new recycling round per day?

31,480.22t Household dry recycling collected 2017/18

31,480.22/261 = 120.61t per day

15 RCV x 10t payload x 1 tip per day = 150t/300t capacity based on 1/2 tips daily

 

42. What is the current overall tonnage for the food waste collected by the recycling rounds per day?

4630.76t food waste collected 2017/18

4630.76/261 = 17.74t per day

 

43. What is the current overall tonnage for each existing refuse restricted access round per day?

Contained in above figures.

44. What is the current overall tonnage for each existing recycling restricted access round per day?

Contained in above figures for recycling.

 

45. Currently we have restricted access rounds. How will the new round collection service address restricted access to locations?

A number of locations have proven challenging to access with the ‘standard’ RCVs in the fleet. As such these locations have been assessed and where necessary removed from rounds on to a separated restricted access ‘round’.

 

46. What is the current overall tonnage of the Saturday green waste rounds?

14,743.58t garden waste collected 2017/18

Majority collected on Saturday rounds. Seasonal variation of tonnages across the year.

47. Will the crews be alternated between refuse and recycling each week?

In the initial 5 weeks of the service it has been necessary to move drivers and loader between different rounds to both assist with familiarisation, better balance the local knowledge and challenge the productivity of rounds so they can be adjusted where needed.

Earlier this week the Leader of Barnet Council made the following public apology

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWa8lLqoezU

As a result of the apology Barnet UNISON initiated an emergency ballot of the views of our Bin worker members.

Barnet Bin workers were asked this question:

“Do you think the new round restructure is a success?”

100% of Barnet UNISON Bin workers balloted agreed the new round changes have failed Barnet residents.

Here are some of their comments:

“Simply the rounds are too big, with the addition of flats and restricted access and the result in not finishing within allocated time”

“Too big, too much work and too many Lorries in one road”

“Residents confused, rounds too big to complete, management gave us new rounds without even consulting with us”

“No leadership, no management, no consultation, no hope”

“Too much work, not put out in order for new structure too work, utter chaos”

Before 4th November 2018 all rounds were completed with very few complaints from residents

Since 4th November 2018 a large number of rounds are not being completed within allocated time, leaving bins uncollected, 1000’s of complaints from residents.

On Wednesday 28 November 2018, the Environment Committee were informed that as a result of the Bin changes the Council were paying between £15-20k in overtime per week simply to try and catch up with missed bin collections.

Could this have been avoided?  

Yes, Barnet UNISON had flagged up 49 questions provided by our Bin worker members on 5 October 2018, four weeks before the launch of the new service.

Read here https://www.barnetunison.me.uk/wp/2018/10/05/waste-recycling-round-restructure-questions/

Barnet UNISON received no responses to these questions.

Barnet UNISON can only conclude that the Council were confident that our serious and fundamental questions (from the workforce) were already addressed in their proposed new Bin service.

For the last four weeks Barnet UNISON has listened to anecdotal feedback from our members and read the comments made by the public about #Bingate.

Something is fundamentally wrong with the Bin changes. The workforce are working long hours to try and catch up but it is simply not enough. There are only four weeks to Christmas a time where there is always an increase in refuse and recycling.