Decisions

The GMCA is the Waste Disposal Authority for the purposes of the Waste Regulation and Disposal (Authorities) Order 1985 and is responsible for the discharge of all the functions of a waste disposal authority.
To resume the provision of HWRC services to the public on a phased approach, enabling sites to reopen whilst maintaining social distancing measures.

Following Government’s announcement on 23 March 2020 of social distancing and movement restrictions in response to the COVID-19 emergency and, as a result, GMCA’s instruction to the HWRC Management Services Provider to close HWRCs with effect from Tuesday 24th March 2020, in accordance with ‘Civic Emergency’ provisions in the contract:
1. The phased re-opening of Household Waste Recycling Centres in Greater Manchester as set out in Option 1 of the report be approved, subject to:
a. further consultation with the districts on the detailed arrangements for the re-opening of sites; and
b. the agreement of each district on the re-opening of any site in its area.
2. The incurring of additional costs in respect of external resources for off-site highways management referred to in paragraph 8.1 of the report be approved.
3. The opening of HWRCs is to be kept under review.
4. The above decisions be approved as urgent and the seeking of exemption from call-in from the Chair of the Housing, Planning and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee be approved.

To respond to the impact of the on-going Covid-19 pandemic on the bus network TfGM has undertaken to review supported services across Greater Manchester with a view to rationalising these in response to commercial network changes and to reflect the pronounced and continuing reductions in patronage. Changes will need to be implemented at short notice as this piece of work is being undertaken in the context of large and continuing drops in passenger numbers, of as much of 90% in some cases, alongside shortages of operating staff.

The overarching principles have been adopted to ensure access to hospitals and food retailers (usually in the district centres) is maintained in particular, as well as a more general level of coverage for other essential travel:

• Where a hospital or other healthcare facility is served, maintain a minimum two hourly frequency (although frequencies may be vary depending on operational circumstances), with first and last journey times remaining unchanged;
• Where a daytime service provides links to food retail, consider reduced operating period or lower frequency; and
• As a reasonable level of patronage data becomes available, reducing or removing services which have not demonstrated demand.