Red light for GREAN’s ‘Rolls Royce’ collection service
THE "Rolls Royce" kerb-side recycling service provided by GREAN (Golspie Recycling Environmental Action Network) to over 4000 households in East and Central Sutherland is coming to an end, it has been confirmed.
Highland Council is cutting the £217,000 annual funding it provides to the social enterprise group which is one of the biggest employers in the area, with a 23-strong workforce.
Instead, the authority is to roll-out its own in-house fortnightly recycling service from June this year.
Confirmation that the cash subsidy is to stop was contained in a report before members of the Transport, Environmental and Community (TEC) Services committee at a meeting in Inverness yesterday (Thursday).
It came as no surprise but it once again plunges GREAN, which has had a rocky financial ride since its inception in 2001, into uncertainty over its future.
However, GREAN manager Fiona MacDonald adopted an upbeat attitude earlier this week. It is understood she told staff at a special meeting that their jobs were safe.
She informed the NT this week: "We’ve been working on developing a range of services and businesses that would allow GREAN to not only sustain the current employment but to grow sustainably into the future."
But an insider, who did not want to be named, suggested that GREAN had not fought hard enough to retain the recycling contract.
The informer said: "If you read the council report, it looks to me that GREAN have rolled over and agreed to something they should have been fighting.
"The report states that this was discussed with GREAN in September last year and agreed by their board in October. Why did they not kick up a fuss about it?"
GREAN’s board comprises local residents John Ford, Tim Cockerill, Brian Sutherland, Kevin Mackay and Christine Henderson.
With the cornerstone of its business gone, GREAN is left with a number of commercial recycling customers along with a bike refurbishment project, GREAN ReCycle, and also Sew GREAN, a recycled clothing operation.
It is understood managers intend to concentrate on building up a relatively new strand to their bow – a vegetable box delivery scheme known as the "Greengrowers Project."
The produce is currently sourced from Glasgow but GREAN, which also runs a community garden, are understood to be keen to grow their own.
GREAN manager Mrs MacDonald said: "The pilot veg box scheme we started in December is only one small part of the overall development of GREAN. Work is continuing to finalise the future plans for GREAN and we will be able to announce further developments in the next few weeks."
Meanwhile local councillors have hinted that the group might become involved in providing activities for adults with learning disabilities. This would tie in with government policy for vulnerable adults to be given more opportunities other than daycare.
Highland Council is not pulling the financial plug immediately, but have agreed to give GREAN £163,000 "transitional support" for the 2012/2013 financial year to help them build up a new business.
The council’s new refuse collection scheme, which is expected to save the authority £500,000 in wages and vehicle costs, has already been rolled out to other areas in the North.
It involves fortnightly pick-ups with general household refuse collected one week and recyclables the next.
East Sutherland and Edderton ward councillor Ian Ross commented: "The council is keen to work with GREAN to produce a robust and successful business model and plan.
"GREAN has highlighted a proposal around the ‘Greengrowers Project’ and the council is also keen to examine any other additional options the board of GREAN may wish to consider – such as the provision of supported employment to adults with learning disabilities.
"I would emphasise that the council, potentially in partnership with others such as HIE, Highland Opportunity and Just Enterprise, is committed to working closely and effectively with GREAN, but ultimately it is for the Board of GREAN to decide on the future direction of the organisation and we will of course respect any such decision."
Fellow ward councillor Deirdre Mackay, whose husband Kevin sits on GREAN’s board, said: "GREAN was ahead of its time and its work has been groundbreaking. It was the first in the Highlands to offer a Rolls Royce service.
"It is a very popular and well respected brand so it is fair to say all the councillors were bitterly disappointed about this. We have argued their case but the policy is equality of provision across Highland."
Mrs Mackay continued: "This is very clearly about jobs. GREAN is a big employer in an economically vulnerable area.
"They are a very good employer of people who require extra help and would find it challenging to get alternative employment.
"A lot of effort must go in to working with GREAN to support these jobs and maintain their level of activity and employment as far as possible.
"Highland Council, Highland Opportunity and Highlands and Islands Enterprise have all pledged to work closely with GREAN."
Mrs Mackay added: "GREAN is an existing social enterprise and they have a wealth of skills and knowledge in running a social enterprise and this would be very valuable in looking at alternative activities for people with supported needs."
