Garden Waste Collection Consultation

Summary Explanation We are asking residents to tell us what they think about charging for collecting garden waste. Only 27% of Conwy’s budget comes from council tax. 54% comes from Welsh Government, and a small amount comes from business rates and charges. Our funding from Welsh Government for 2019/20 is not sufficient to meet the pressures facing our schools and social services. This means that we have a budget shortfall of £15.2m and need to make savings. Local Authorities are allowed to charge for collecting household garden waste and many councils already do this, including Gwynedd, Denbighshire and Flintshire. The garden waste recycling collection service currently costs £620,000 a year and we would expect this cost to rise next time the service is tendered. This is no longer affordable and we are considering either stopping the service or charging to cover some or all of the costs.

Residents will still be able to take garden waste to the Household Recycling Centres for free. Home composters are also available at a discounted rate, please see our website:  www.conwy.gov.uk/en/Resident/Recycling-and-Waste/Home-Composting.aspx

	What is your postcode?

	Do you use the garden waste recycling collection service? Please select one option.
	Yes
	No

	How often do you use the service? Please select one option.
	Every fortnight
	Once a month
	Less than once a month

	When do you use the service? Please select one option.
	Throughout the year
	Most of the year but not winter
	Only in the summer

	How do you rate the current service? 1 = very poor, 10 = excellent. Please select one option.
	1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10
	1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10

	Do you have any comments about the current service?

	The Council is looking at making changes to the garden waste recycling collection, to save money. Which option would you prefer? Please select one option.
	I would prefer the Council to stop this service
	I would prefer to keep the service and pay towards it

* We have not included an option to keep the service as it is. This is not affordable due to the scale of budget cuts we have to make. We understand that most people would want to keep the service without charge.

	How much would you pay for a fortnightly service, similar to the current service? Please tick all options that apply.
	£46 a year (£3.83 a month) £1.91 per collection
	£40 a year (£3.33 a month) £1.66 per collection
	£36 a year (£3.00 a month) £1.50 per collection
	£30 a year (£2.50 a month) £1.25 per collection

	If we could offer you a payment discount, which of these would encourage you to sign up for a garden waste recycling collection subscription? Please tick all options that apply.
	Early payment discount
	Online payment discount
	Direct debit payment discount
	2 or 3 year sign-up discount

	Please use this space to give us any comments that will help us decide about the future of the garden waste recycling collection service.

Equality and human rights in the UK is underpinned by a legal framework. The Equality Act 2010 requires all public authorities to fulfil the requirements set out by the Act which includes gathering equality monitoring information in order to monitor the effectiveness and fairness of our policies and practices.  To ensure our services are delivered in a way that is fair to all and free from bias, we would appreciate your co-operation in providing, on an entirely voluntary basis, the information as requested below.

The information will be used solely for statistical monitoring purposes to help create a fully inclusive environment.  Data will be kept confidential and will not be used to attempt to identify any individual.  Where using the data could identify individuals due to low responses, action to aggregate that data will be taken to prevent individuals being identifiable.  This information will be securely destroyed after we have analysed the data which will only be used in connection with this area of work.  If you are uncomfortable completing all of the boxes, please feel free to complete the ones which you are comfortable with as this data will still be useful to us.

Age

	What is your age?  Please select one option.
	16-24
	25-34
	35-44
	45-54
	55-64
	65-74
	75-84
	Over 85
	Prefer not to say

Sex

	What is your gender? Please select one option.
	Male
	Female
	Other
	Prefer not to say

Disability The Equality Act 2010 defines a disabled person as a person who has a physical or mental impairment, which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on the person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities (i.e. has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months).

	Do you consider yourself to have a disability according to the terms of the Equality Act 2010? Please select one option.
	Yes
	No
	Prefer not to say

Nationality

	What is your national identity? Please select one option.
	British
	Welsh
	English
	Scottish
	Northern Irish
	Irish
	Prefer not to say
	Other

	If other, please specify:

Ethnicity

	What is your ethnic group?  Please select one option.
	White
	Black
	Asian
	Chinese
	Mixed
	Gypsy / Traveller
	Prefer not to say
	Other

	If other, please specify:

Gender Reassignment

	Since birth has your gender identity changed?  Please select one option.
	Yes
	No
	Prefer not to say

Sexual Orientation

	What is your sexual orientation?  Please select one option.
	Heterosexual / straight
	Gay man
	Gay woman or lesbian
	Bi-sexual
	Prefer not to say
	Other

	If other, please specify:

Religion or Belief

	What is your religion?  Please select one option.
	Christian
	Muslim
	Sikh
	Hindu
	Buddhist
	Jewish
	No religion
	Atheist
	Prefer not to say
	Other

	If other, please specify:

Pregnancy and Maternity

	Are you currently pregnant or have you been pregnant or taken maternity leave in the last year?  Please select one option.
	Yes
	No
	Prefer not to say

Carer Responsibilities

	Do you provide unpaid daily care to someone who would not manage without your help?  Please select one option.
	Yes
	No
	Prefer not to say

Language Preference

	What is your preferred language?  Please select one option.
	Welsh
	English
	Both Welsh and English
	British Sign Language
	Prefer not to say
	Other

	If other, please specify: