Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision

The Officer’s report covered the draft Environmental and Waste Services Portfolio Plan 2014-15, which sets out the strategic objectives for the portfolio for the year ahead, describes the context in which the portfolio was being delivered and detailed the activities required to deliver the outcomes and the vision. Performance measures and risks were also shown for each strategic objective.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Environmental & Waste Services

Approved the draft Environmental and Waste Services Portfolio Plan 2014-15.

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 Refuse and Environment, introduced by the Executive Councillor for Environmental and Waste Services.

The Executive Councillor referred to a typographical error in paragraph 3.1 (P61) of the Officer’s report. This was the fourth, not third; year in which Cambridge City Council has produced Portfolio Plans.

In response to Members’ questions the Executive Councillor for Environmental & Waste Services said the following:

EW 2.3

       i.          The new pest control service should be in place by July 2014. A support process for those needing financial assistance to pay for a commercial pest control operator would be in place from July. No gap was expected between the end of the old service and start of the new.

EW 3.5

     ii.          The City Council would have to look at a cost/benefit analysis of implementing its own grass cutting service if it was unable to work with the County Council to develop a sustainable policy on highway grass cutting in the City. The intention was to maintain a dialogue and try to undertake joint work. The City Council was unable to raise a levy to cover costs (unlike a parish council) to financially support the service.

The Director of Environment said the City and County Councils had a joint interest in co-operating to provide a highway grass cutting service. Resources were needed in the right place at the right time. Grass cutting arrangements were being discussed to manage risks.

In response to Members’ questions the Head of Refuse and Environment said the following:

       i.          The Council had been successful in increasing the amount of trade waste it collected, which therefore reduced the amount of waste going to landfill.

     ii.          It was hoped that the launch of the commercial food waste collection service from the start of the 2014 financial year would lead to a further reduction in waste going to landfill.

   iii.          Undertook to provide Councillors with waste collection figures after the Committee.

The Committee resolved by 4 votes to 0 to endorse the recommendation.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

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

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.