The North Hertfordshire cabinet member responsible for the authority’s much-criticised waste and recycling services is to be grilled by the public in Hitchin town centre tomorrow, and by members of the Hitchin committee on Tuesday night.

Councillor Michael Weeks, North Herts District Council’s cabinet member for waste and recycling, will join Hitchin councillors in Market Place at 10.30am tomorrow to answer questions about the problems since Urbaser took over the contract on May 14.

The chronic problems with brown bin and food caddy collection across North Herts prompted Mr Weeks to “unreservedly apologise” last week, amid virulent criticism from the district council’s Labour and Liberal Democrat groups.

He will also be at Tuesday night’s Hitchin committee meeting, the first of the civic year, to answer further questions.

It’s the area committee’s first meeting under Labour control, after the district council’s Conservative majority lost two Hitchin seats last month – one each to Labour and the Lib Dems.

New committee chairman Councillor Ian Albert, one of the three Labour members for Bearton, has urged anyone interested to come along on Tuesday night.

“I want the committee to be remain a focal point in bringing together the community in Hitchin and representing residents,” he said.

Tuesday night’s meeting will also feature Ros Southward of the Hitchin Rail Commuters group, who will speak about the fiasco surrounding the new Great Northern rail timetable.

There will also be contributions from groups including Rhythms of the World and the British Schools Museum, who will talk about their work and seek grant awards from the committee.

The meeting at 7.30pm is in the Peter Morrison Hall at Benslow Music School, off Benslow Lane, and is preceded by the town talk at 6.30pm. The agenda is available here.