Decision details

Matter for Decision

 

      i.          Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service (GCSWS) is responsible for collecting domestic waste from 131,000 households and commercial waste from more than 2,000 businesses across Greater Cambridge.

     ii.          Due to growth in the number of households served, collection rounds have expanded at a significant rate since they were last reviewed in 2017 and are forecast to increase further, resulting in the need to review and optimise routes.

   iii.          Reduction, reuse, and recycling are the top priority choices in UK government policy for waste. The Government has published a recycling target of 64% by 2035 in its Resources and Waste Strategy. This presents a challenge to Waste Collection Authorities due to the stagnation of recycling rates, and increased pressure because of impending legislation designed to increase recycling (see Appendix A). It is therefore essential that collection services are efficient prior to implementing these national changes.

   iv.          Results from a route optimisation exercise conducted by GCSWS demonstrate that the Council has an opportunity to deliver efficiencies and improvements to collections, whilst accommodating the significant rates of past and future growth.

    v.          The service has also taken the opportunity to explore the feasibility of delivering collections within a four-day week to understand the potential benefits to staff wellbeing, sickness levels, and recruitment and retention rates, as well as a more streamlined service for residents and a modest reduction in carbon emissions due to less overall travel times and bank holiday changes.

   vi.          Appendix A sets out further information on the emerging policies affecting the UK waste industry and GCSWS contexts.

Decision of The Executive Councillor for Climate Action and Environment

 

      i.          To note the round optimisation process and revised number of routes as set out at paragraph 33.

     ii.          To note the impact that past and future growth and legislative changes will have on the collection service.

   iii.          To approve the trial of a four-day week waste collection service for three months from September 2023 to be funded by existing operational budgets within the service, with a report on the outcome of the trial presented to Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee in the Autumn of 2023.

   iv.          To note that South Cambridgeshire Cabinet approved a trial on 15 May 2023.

Reason for the Decision

 

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

 

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The Head of Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service introduced the report.

 

The Head of Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service said the following in response to Members’ questions:

 

      i.           Expected to see a drop in sickness rates due to an increase in officer overall well-being because of an extra day of rest for crews due to the 4 day week trial.

     ii.          Expected a reduction in agency costs. At peak times last year, the service was using upwards of 30-40 agency staff. Currently there were 10-12. Feedback regarding that number was that people had been attracted to working there due to potential 4-day work week trial. This would be closely monitored and information would be reported back to the Committee on findings.

   iii.          Did not expect to see the full impact to the service within the three month trial, however, would be able to see if there were any issues that arose during this time period.

   iv.          Had no control over what workers did on their non-working day and whether they would take on extra work. However, pay scales had improved and hoped anyone taking on extra work would be limited. Any outside/additional work by staff had to be disclosed to the Human Resources team. This was strictly monitored to ensure that drivers and crews were not overworked.

    v.          There were no capital costs if the trial did not succeed and officers would revert back to a 5-day work week.

   vi.          If it was necessary to go back to a 5-day work week, there was a plan in place to do so.

 vii.          4-day work week routes had already been optimised.

viii.          During the first four weeks of the trial, while the drivers are learning the new routes, there would be backup capacity to ensure any missed bins would be collected.

   ix.          Waste staff would work 30 plus 2 hours during the 4-day week trial. When working hours would be equalised with office-based staff was to be determined.

The Executive Councillor for Climate Action and Environment said the following in response to Members’ questions.

 

      i.          Thought the larger cost savings would be seen mostly via office-based staff it was important that all staff need to be treated equally.

     ii.          The previously scheduled route optimisation and 4-day work week would be taking place at the same time. The advantage of this to the public was that there would only need to be a change once.

The Committee unanimously endorsed 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.