Derbyshire Times news bulletin 2nd October
Derbyshire Times news bulletin with editor Phil Bramley
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Here's today's Derbyshire Times video bulletin.
00:03 Plans are afoot to combine council bin collection contracts across Derbyshire in a bid to save costs and reduce the number of lorries and depots that operate.
00:12 A Derbyshire County Council meeting heard that major cooperation work is needed to prepare for national changes on the way of bin collections, including weekly separate free food waste pick-ups.
00:23 As it stands, there are currently 12 separate contracts put out by Derbyshire's district, borough and city councils for food and garden waste collections.
00:32 In times of competition for the best deals, these smaller contracts are inherently less attractive according to the council.
00:38 And this is why the council is planning to pool the contracts into a smaller number of high value contracts to reduce costs, if the district and borough councils and city council come on board.
00:49 Costs can be saved by councils requiring fewer bin lorries and depots, with contracts currently confined to smaller boroughs and district boundaries.
00:57 Individual councils will still be responsible for the actual collections, which is one of their legal statutory duties, while the county and city councils would continue to handle disposal, which is their own obligation.
01:09 Daniel Ayrton, who is the county council's assistant director of resources and waste, told the meeting that more standardised recycling would be welcomed across Derbyshire and would enable savings.
01:20 Mr Ayrton said that the potential changes on the way with weekly food collections, along with other changes, offered a 'once in a generation' opportunity to make improvements.
01:30 An elderly cat called Lucky lived up to his name when he was rescued after being stuck 6 metres up a tree in remote woodland at Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire.
01:40 Following a number of rescue attempts, including the RSPCA, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service and National Trust staff, the pet was finally reunited with his elated owners, who had been distraught after he had been missing from home for two weeks.
01:54 Lucky was dehydrated and a little underweight following his ordeal, but otherwise in good health.
02:00 A vet found that he was microchipped and said they were able to contact his grateful owners, who were shocked but delighted that he was safe and well.
02:07 Lucky, who is aged 12, was reunited with owners Mary Holland and husband Eric, who live 15 miles away in Long Eaton.