Cookham Discussion Board

A 'plan B' will be introduced to combat Windsor and Maidenhead's "failing" bin collection, following months of problems.

In August the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead waste contractor Serco reverted back to weekly collections, with revised routes and a new ‘target operation model’.

But residents say this has repeatedly led to bins being overlooked – despite additional crews and bin lorries to work through the backlog.

The Royal Borough's lead member for parking and public safety, councillor David Cannon, said Serco was “over-ambitious” when implementing the new modelling system.

He revealed a meeting was held with Serco putting together a “plan B” to add in a Saturday collection and reduce the service on Tuesdays and Fridays across the borough.

It has been “stress-tested” on Monday and won’t be implemented until the lead member for waste, councillor David Coppinger, is confident and satisfied with its performance.

Cllr Cannon said: “It’s total chaos. Hopefully these plans they’re hoping to bring in will amend this – but until such time, all we can is keep harassing Serco.

“There are financial penalties involved, I am told they are being implemented.

“Serco have put some money into this because they’re bringing in trucks and people from everywhere across the country to try and address this concern and they’re working additional days and overtime.

Cllr Cannon warned if Serco continues this poor service and does not make the new modelling system work, the “suitability of continuing the contract will be under consideration”.

Having experienced missed bins myself, I can certainly agree to the description of 'total chaos' as applied by RBWM, but I have to admit to having at least some sympathy towards SERCO in all this. We tend to forget that the company operated this contract quite satisfactorily from last autumn. And even the reduced fortnightly collections due to covid worked reasonably well. It was only after the return to 'normal' was overshadowed with a 'target operation model' (whatever the heck that is!) that the current level of dissatisfaction revealed itself. If, after months of an OK service locally, it is now necessary for SERCO to rely on help from "everywhere across the country", what on earth is being asked of them in the contract?

Serco are notorious for going in with low quotes so they get the contract. I am amazed how the government seems to use them so much. My company used to have them as a customer and they arranged an all fun meeting to tell the employees they were making people redundant! How do you make that fun?

Hi Cat, I should add that the conference was a while back, but it does not seem they have changed. Birdman sympathises with them, but their main problem is they scrimp on costs thus affecting the unhappy staff.

Still, at least we have finally been notified in writing that Friday bin collections are officially switching to Saturday!!