Issue - decisions

The River Cam (River) was used for swimming and due to this, there were a range of issues presented and raised. The Officer’s report considered these issues, the water quality concerns, the impact on human health from that water quality and a range of other considerations that must be understood to allow the City Council (as landowner) to consider and support a Designated Bathing Water (DBW) for Sheep’s Green.

 

The Council considered on 20 July 2023 a Motion titled Stop Dumping Sewage in our River and Chalk Streams. This report was in response to that motion.

 

The 2023 motion debate prompted eight public questions at the Council meeting with a range of topics, benefits and concerns.

 

The Officer’s report responded to some of those items and to a range of other matters to be considered to allow the Council to support a formal application by Cam Valley Forum to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for an inland water stretch along the river to be designated as a bathing water site.

 

The decision process and requirements to support a designated bathing water (DBW) application were set out in the 2023 motion with a full report to be considered at the Environment & Community Scrutiny Committee to help inform a decision by the Executive Councillor for Open Space and City Services.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Open Spaces and City Services

Supported the Cam Valley Forum application for a Designated Bathing Area to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for an inland water stretch along the River Cam, within Cambridge City Council boundaries, to be designated as a bathing water site.

 

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 Group Operations Manager (secondment). He updated details in the report:

      i.          DEFRA had changed the definition of ‘user’ so the description in paragraph 3.7 was correct but the description in paragraph 6.1 (20 days) was suspended.

     ii.          Ref paragraph 6.2: The only facility that needs to be near a DBW was toilets.

 

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

      i.          The River was dirty and not somewhere the City Council should signpost as a swimming area.

     ii.          The problem was larger than just the city. The River flowed into the city, but from/to the greater area.

a.    DBA was something the Council could control, but not the water company actions.

b.    People swam in the River already without being aware of it being dirty. If cleaned up there would be health benefits for people who used it as an amenity space.

c.    Requested the Executive Councillor to give updates to Committee on DBA progress.

   iii.          DBA was a way to protect the River.

   iv.          Queried why Anglian Water waited for DBA status before cleaning up the River?

    v.          Sheep’s Green was not a popular area to swim in at present as it was a nature reserve. DBA status could damage the area if people swam there. Environmental implications were noted in the report, would DBA status attract more people?

   vi.          Queried why the Council waited for DBA status before putting up notices about polluted water? Should do that beforehand.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Group Operations Manager said the aim of the DBA was to clean up the River.

 

The Executive Councillor said the following in response to Members’ questions:

      i.          Would give an update on DBA at Committee in future.

     ii.          Wanted to get pollutants out of the River. This could also help the nature reserve and wildlife in general.

   iii.          Referred to Councillor Glasberg’s letters to residents and took issue with its contents.

 

The Committee resolved by 7 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.