Issue - meetings

This agenda item will be covered in the report on Item 8.

 

It was noted that the report relevant to this item had partly been considered under agenda items 8 and 9. The recommendations for all three agenda items would therefore be considered and determined en bloc.

 

The report highlighted the need to hire additional staff on a temporary basis to increase street cleansing and public realm enforcement in the city centre during the busy summer months.

 

In response to questions from Cabinet Members and those Councillors present, the Cabinet Members for Nature, Open Space and City Services and for Climate Action and Environment said the following:

 

Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)

      i.         The issue was first raised in Council approximately two years ago, with significant work undertaken by Planning and Enforcement Officers, with Councillors recently briefed on the on the evidence and findings on 24 June 2026.

    ii.         The findings and proposed next steps for the emerging, Local Plan were due to be considered by the Performance, Assets and Strategy Overview and Scrutiny (PAS) Committee on 15 July.

   iii.         The PAS published papers included an evidence study on the role and impact of HMOs in Cambridge and any recommendations from Scrutiny would be considered by a meeting of the two Cabinets (Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council) on 21 July.  If approved, the proposals would be subject to public consultation.

  iv.         The evidence identified areas of higher HMO density and would assist Members in considering the introduction of an Article 4 Direction, which would require planning permission for the conversion of family homes into HMOs.

    v.         Officers would review the recommendations and provide a report and their recommendations scheduled for Cabinet on 20 October

 

Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) for Antisocial Driving

      i.         Officers were investigating the use and effectiveness of PSPOs for antisocial driving in other areas.

  vi.         For a PSPO to be introduced, the Council had to gather sufficient evidence demonstrating that the behaviour and robust evidence base was therefore required:

·      Has a detrimental effect on quality of life;

·      Is persistent in nature;

·      Justifies the proposed restrictions.

 vii.         Based on Officers' investigations, the process from evidence gathering to implementation of an enforceable order typically took between six and twelve months, although this would depend on local circumstances. A report was expected to be brought to Cabinet on 20 October.

 

Equalities Act Guidance

      i.         Officers had begun assessing the guidance in May when it was laid before Parliament, which had a statutory 40-day period in which to review the guidance.

    ii.         Should Parliament reject or amend the guidance, the Council would review its position accordingly.

   iii.         A national petition seeking to reject the guidance had exceeded 10,000 signatures, requiring a Government response.

  iv.         Officers would bring a report to the Council once Parliament has reached a decision, after which the Council would consider its next steps.

    v.         Some members have expressed a wish for the matter to be considered by the Services, Climate and Communities Committee, potentially at its meeting on 24 September, subject to agreement by the Chair and Vice-Chair.

  vi.         The matter was then expected to be considered by Cabinet on 20 October.

 vii.         Councillor Davidson's comments were acknowledged and would be considered as part of the Council's response.

 

The Cabinet unanimously resolved:

      i.         To approve the immediate reopening of as many individual toilets at Parkers Piece as feasible following condition and compliance checks.

    ii.         To request officers, bring a paper to 23rd September Cabinet setting out options for the future of Parker’s Piece and Quayside toilets, including reopening and operating cost, payment options, and capital investment needed to meet any new accessibility requirements. 

   iii.         That four temporary staff are recruited as soon as possible to provide additional street cleansing capacity at priority hotspots, including the city centre, and strengthening programmed cleansing activity across the city, to be organised into a new daily 12-7pm shift.

  iv.         To agree that officers implement route optimisation and operational redesign informed by performance and REEN smart bin technology data to deliver efficiencies that can release existing cleaning capacity for priority hotspots. 

    v.         To agree that officers will bring a more detailed paper on longer-term staffing requirements once the additional temporary resource is in place and its impact can be assessed to feed into the budget setting process in late Autumn.

  vi.         To agree to the recruitment of two additional temporary Public Realm Enforcement Officers (a permanent appointment would be made in September, which would replace one of the temporary posts) so that a team of 5 enforcement officers will be funded from July to the end of the financial year.

 vii.         To agree that officers bring an evidence-based report to Cabinet in November/December setting out the impact of the additional capacity and other reforms to improve prevention and enforcement activity with advice on whether there is sufficient capacity or whether further resources are required.  

viii.         That the in-year revenue costs of these proposals are funded using the Transformation and Reinvestment Fund, anticipated to be up to £200k, and that the CFO has delegated authority to approve this. 

  ix.         That proposals are brought forward as part of the 2027/2028 Budget setting process so that future funding for the costs of toilet reopening, additional street cleaning and enforcement activity can be secured.