Decision details

Matter for Decision

The Officer’s report made recommendations on the approval and adoption of a Litter Strategy for Cambridge City (set out in detail at Appendix A of the Officer’s report).

 

The Strategy was recommended for approval and adoption following extensive research and stakeholder engagement, including a public survey, focus group and series of officer task and finish groups.

 

The Strategy reflected public consultation results and identified areas for strategic action that included:

      i.          Effective litter disposal infrastructure provision.

     ii.          Awareness raising and education.

   iii.          Enforcement.

   iv.          Collaboration and partnership working.

    v.          Civic pride and social responsibility.

 

The Strategy was intended to support positive change in behaviours, make it easy to dispose of litter, continue with enforcement activity, when it is proportionate and reasonable to do so, maximise the productivity of streets and open spaces waste management service and minimise the volume of litter.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Environment, Climate Change and Biodiversity

      i.          Approved the adoption and use of the proposed ‘Litter Strategy for Cambridge’ (ref. Appendix A of the Officer’s report).

     ii.          Instructed Officers to format the Strategy for publication and to prepare a Communication Plan to support its adoption and implementation.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Development Manager, Streets & Open Spaces.

 

The Development Manager, Streets & Open Spaces said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.          Officers were undertaking a number of initiatives. Examples:

a.    Working with the Keep Britain Tidy Campaign.

b.    Different bins were provided for general waste and recycling.

c.    Providing labels on bins listing how to dispose of waste responsibly.

d.    Checking bins were in appropriate locations ie where people would use them instead of fly tipping.

     ii.          No particular enforcement action was required regarding litter at present. CCTV could be used to catch culprits if required.

   iii.          Litter was not always recyclable but the aim to do so could be included in Litter Strategy Policy LS2.

   iv.          The Development Manager was working with the Waste Team on recycling policies to separate wate received into different streams (for reuse/sale) even if depositors did not. General waste and recycling bins were located together in tandem, but people usually put rubbish in the closest bin regardless of whether it was the most appropriate.

    v.          Noted that Central Government proposed six different collection types in future. This would feed into the Litter Strategy.

 

The Executive Councillor said the City Council:

      i.          Collected bins but recycling was undertaken by the County Council. If the Recycling Policy changed in future eg separating glass from paper, more bins may need to be provided and collected.

     ii.          Was engaging partners such as RECAPP about the Central Government Waste and Resources Strategy. The City Council wanted to implement a deposit return scheme but not all partners wanted to. The Central Government Strategy would impact on the City Council Litter Strategy and Waste Strategy.

 

Councillors requested a change to the report text (recommendations unaffected). Councillor Howard proposed to add the following text to those in the Officer’s report:

 

Litter Strategy (page 53) Policy LS2

 

To continue to build a knowledge base and understanding around litter and sources of litter to inform, direct, and drive all service activity and maximise our effectiveness.

We will:

 Continue our work with Greater Cambridge Shared Waste service to examine the causes of littering, including fly tipping, and so help us find solutions to deal with problems at source.

 Create campaigns and encourage businesses to design their products and packaging in ways which will reduce public waste, including reuse before recycling recyclable by default and stating clear methods of disposal.

 Ensure and support more recycling with media campaigns.

 Work with partners in the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning service to design bin infrastructure on new development sites.

 

The Committee unanimously approved this amendment.

 

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.