COUNCILLORS have been denied the chance to publicly quiz officials on the need for a booking system at a West Fife recycling centre.

As previously reported in the Press, a booking system was introduced at Dalgety Bay Recycling Centre due to concerns about managing traffic on site.

Cllr David Barratt was told that "It is simply not appropriate for councillors to get involved” and submitted a motion to demand a report come to the cabinet committee to allow the issue to be discussed more openly.

Now South and West Fife councillors have been denied the opportunity to publicly quiz officials on the need for a booking system.

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Councillor Dave Dempsey commented: “Council Committees exist to allow councillors to make decisions and to scrutinise the work of the Council. The imposition of this booking system affects the public in South & West Fife, so the obvious place to scrutinise that is our Area Committee.

“Accordingly, I asked that this motion be tabled for its next meeting.

“Committee requests that the relevant Spokesperson and senior officers attend the next meeting of the committee to facilitate scrutiny of the decision to reintroduce a booking system at Dalgety Bay Recycling Centre”.

The response read: “… your proposed motion is not competent nor appropriate for the above committee to process. The running of the recycling centres have been contracted out to FRS together with the supplying of the associated services.

“In terms of the contracted position regulating this arrangement, operational decisions rest with FRS, and these provisions require to respected as do the individual positions of the contractual parties. In terms of governance, there is no remit for the above committee to cover otherwise”.

The booking system came into place at the site on Ridge Way on July 29. There have been reports of drivers without a booking have to reverse out again into the busy road.

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Cllr Dempsey added: “This isn’t the end of this matter. It’s scarcely even the beginning. If the rules really bar us from asking these questions in public then the rules need changing and the 75 Fife Councillors need to push through those changes.

“If the contract between Fife Council and FRS needs rewritten then it should be rewritten.

“It may be that a booking system is the answer to the problems at Dalgety Bay Recycling Centre, though I’m unconvinced, but such changes should be discussed in advance, not imposed by diktat.

“This is a service to the public, ultimately paid for by the public, and the public’s elected representatives should be part of any decision to reduce it.”

Head of Environment and Building Services, John Rodigan confirmed that Fife Resource Solutions (FRS) manage Fife’s recycling centres on behalf of Fife Council.

The arrangement is regulated by an Operations Agreement and places safety as the paramount consideration for both the council and FRS/Cireco in the delivery of the services at the recycling centres.

“We work together with FRS to provide the best recycling services possible. We understand there have been concerns around the introduction of the new booking system at Dalgety Bay recycling centre and will work with local residents and councillors to address these.”

Chair of the Board of Fife Resource Solutions, Cllr Ross Vettraino added: “The new booking system was introduced for all vehicles due to increasing demand and congestion at Dalgety Bay recycling centre causing safety risks to the public and site staff. 

“This small recycling centre has a high volume of traffic which often causes heavy congestion both within the facility and in the surrounding area.

"We thank residents for their patience and co-operation as the new system comes into effect and will work with the council to address concerns raised.”