Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

 

To consider the budget proposals relating to this Environment, Waste and Public Portfolio which were included in the Budget-Setting Report 2016/17 to be considered at the following meetings:

 

·        18 January 2016: Strategy & Resources

·        21 January 2016: The Executive

·        8 February 2016: Strategy & Resources

·        25 February 2016: Meeting of Full Council 

 

Recommendations

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor for Environment & Waste.

 

Approved the proposed charges for this portfolio’s services and facilities, as shown in Appendix A of the Officer’s report.

 

Revenue:

     i.         Consider the revenue budget proposals as shown in Appendix B of the Officer’s report.

Capital:

    ii.        Consider the capital budget proposals as shown in Appendix C of the Officer’s report.

   iii.        Adjust capital funding for items 2 (c) as shown in the Officer’s report.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alterative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The Committee received a report from the Principal Accountant which detailed the budget proposals relating to the Environment and Waste portfolio.

 

In response to questions the Principal Accountant and Executive Councillor for Environment and Waste responded with the following:

     i.        With regards to the updated cost of the North West Cambridge collection vehicle, this would be purchased to meet the underground waste collection which had been an integrated part of the design of the development to increase recycling rates. This would also help to meet the urban design targets. The City Council would pay for the portion of the vehicle which would be the equivalent to the cost of a City Council standard refuse truck, the vast bulk of the cost would be met by the University of Cambridge. If the vehicle broke down a truck would be hired for the period of down time.

    ii.        The electric vehicle for the pest control team would be the second van for their department.

   iii.        Smaller electrical vehicles were viable for the Council as the power was not there for larger vehicles. These smaller electric vehicles would be charged from Mill Road Depot but additional charge points could be considered.

  iv.        Electric vehicles that were to be purchased would hold a charge for 100 miles.

   v.        The electric vehicles would come with a 100,000 mile warranty. Servicing the vehicle would be cheaper as there would be no components to change such as oil or filters. The heating system of these vehicles run separately to the battery and therefore the charge would last longer.

  vi.        The increase to the Hazardous Domestic Collections for Shared Waste Service was to cover the harmonisation fees to cover the services that were being offered.  These charges were the first stage to work towards a same single charge for all the local authorities concerned.

 vii.        Agreed it was important to maintain the post of the Recycling Officer but the budget was limited and the City Council were currently looking at different ways to improve recycling under the current volunteer recycling scheme.

viii.        Recycling figures for Cambridge had reduced by 1%, split equally between green and blue waste.

 

The Committee resolved 7 votes to 0 endorsed the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the amended recommendations.

 

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

 

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.