Bin collections are “back on track” in Southampton – with focus now put on the council’s “ageing” fleet of vehicles used by the service.

Earlier this year many residents saw their wheelie bins go uncollected for weeks, with council leaders putting the blame on a change in working practices.

Almost 15,000 missed bin collection reports were made in February alone.

Previously crews had been allowed to leave early once rounds were completed but from late January they were required to work until the end of their shifts.

The change was to bring bin collection staff arrangements in line with other council workers and “cap” a potential equal pay liability.

Giving an update on the service at the council meeting on September 18, Cllr Eamonn Keogh, Labour cabinet member for environment and transport, said collection rates for the past three months had exceeded 99.6 per cent.

He said crews were scheduled to collect more than half a million bins every month.

Conservative councillor Steven Galton said: “The whole city is pleased to see bin collections back on track.

“From where we were at it is a definite improvement.

“My understanding is where there is still disruption now, it isn’t staff related, it is more vehicle break down.”

He asked for details on when decisions will be made on the future of waste collection services given the “ageing fleet” was “causing the bulk of our disruptions now”.

Cllr Keogh said: “You are right that you have identified that there is an issue with for example the fleet that is an ageing position that needs replacing.

“Part of the transformation is that we are looking at our fleet replacement and the most appropriate vehicle.

“We have appointed an external agency to come in and help us undertake that process and in due course, I think we will be reporting on the outcomes.”

The cabinet member was asked if any priority would be given to the green city ambitions for net zero when replacing the fleet.

Electric waste collection vehicles were a lot more expensive than petrol or diesel lorries, Cllr Galton said.

Cllr Keogh said: “There will be a number of factors that will influence that capital replacement and, as you mentioned, we are committed to getting to net zero, so that will definitely be a priority that is driving that fleet replacement.

“You can be assured that that is being accommodated within that whole process.

“We recognise we want to be a city that is net zero by 2035, as an organisation by 2030, so that is a real challenge that we have set but it is a priority within that capital investment programme.”