Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision

The Officer’s report sought agreement for a single “Waste Collection Service Policies and Procedures” document setting out the service that Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service would deliver for the residents of both Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council.

 

This was a key decision as it would have significant effects on the service budget; and communities living or working in an area that comprises two or more wards.

 

The report was sent to both Cabinet (SCDC) and Executive Councillor (City Council) for decision. Introduction of chargeable additional garden waste bins was for decision by SCDC only and so not listed in the decision below.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Environmental Services

and City Centre

       i.          Approved the Officer’s report and associated ‘Waste Collection Policies and Procedures’ document as a whole and in particular the major changes to policy as detailed below:

a.    Change to monthly organic collection during December, January and February (City only).

b.    Change to 6am start time for domestic waste services (City only).

     ii.          Delegated to the relevant Lead Director and Lead Member in each authority to approve minor updates to this document to ensure operation efficiency and customer satisfaction.

 

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 Head of Shared Waste Service.

 

Councillor Martinelli formally proposed to amend recommendations in the Officer’s report:

       i.          Approved the Officer’s report and associated ‘Waste Collection Policies and Procedures’ document as a whole and in particular the major changes to policy as detailed below:

a.    Subject to satisfactory alternative arrangements being made for food-waste-only collection from households which don’t have green bins and households in flats with communal waste storage in the weeks in which general organic collection is proposed to be withdrawn.

b.    Subject to prior member agreement of the areas which will be impacted by collections occurring before 07:00.

 

Councillors then discussed the amendment.

 

The Executive Councillor suggested the amendments would not be practicable.

 

The Executive Councillor and Head of Shared Waste Service made the following comments in response to the amendments:

       i.          Changes were made to collection routes in 2017 to make them more flexible and respond to circumstances that arise on the day eg blocked roads. Waste crews were aware of the new route details.

     ii.          The start before 7am had been implemented for staff safety reasons during the extreme heat over the summer. There had only been 2 complaints. Crews were asked to be considerate at all times.

   iii.          Changes to monthly organic collection during December, January and February were being trialled this winter. A consultation on the impact would be reported back to Environment and Community Scrutiny Committee in the future.

 

Opposition Councillors made the following comments in response to the amendments:

       i.          The Public were concerned that services were being cut and wanted reassurance that councillors had the situation in hand.

     ii.          Residents were concerned that food waste collections would be delayed or cancelled over the winter.

   iii.          Preferred a voluntary rather than mandatory withdrawal of green bin collections.

   iv.          Expressed a preference for collections after 7am. Asked if there was a way that councillors could pass information onto residents when streets would get collections before 7am.

 

Labour Councillors made the following comments in response to the amendments:

       i.          Expressed concern that collection routes could be approved by councillors. Officers were better placed to make operational decisions.

     ii.          Supported a start before 7am collection time to maintain route flexibility.

 

The Executive Councillor and Head of Shared Waste Service made the following comments in response to Members:

       i.          Some green bin rubbish could be put in blue ones eg clean cardboard.

     ii.          The cold would freeze food waste in winter so it was unlikely to smell or rot.

   iii.          The new collection system was trialled over summer 2018 and no problems were reported. None were expected in winter. Officers would review the situation.

   iv.          Councillors would not be asked to agree collection routes due to the size of operations and potential loss of flexibility in the system. Collection routes would be an operational decision.

    v.          The service was not reducing. Crews were being freed up so they could join busier routes (instead of continuing on quiet ones) or take holidays (over Christmas in this instance).

 

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

       i.          The collection service would be reviewed. Where residents needed something different to the standard service, their needs would be reviewed and a bespoke service be given to that property eg a block of flats. The ‘standard service’ would suit a majority of peoples’ needs.

     ii.          Crews would collect fridge-freezers, but not oversized American-style freezers. Retailers had a duty of care to take back old items. This could be communicated to residents.

   iii.          3 fewer collections would be undertaken over the year. This would save fuel costs for vehicles.

   iv.          Staff had twice been consulted on the waste service changes:

a.    Over the summer.

b.    End of summer when the report came out.

 

The Committee rejected Councillor Martinelli’s amendment by 6 votes to 4.

 

The Committee resolved by 6 votes to 1 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.