Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision:

The Officer’s report set out a proposal to move Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Waste Partnership (RECAP) to the next level of partnership working in order to gain the maximum advantage for the authorities collectively.

RECAP partnership has been a successful partnership to date. However, members and officers recognised that more could be achieved by an enhanced partnership approach. Independent research work has also helped identify a way forward.

Two types of advanced partnership working have been identified.

These are:

(i)                Joint projects or joint ventures.

(ii)              Joint Waste Committee.

A partnership charter has been drawn up in order to take these options forward, laying out important principles, vision and objectives. The charter would provide partners with a solid basis of agreement and make decisions within a formal framework.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Environmental & Waste Services:

(i)                Adopted the RECAP Advanced Partnership Working Charter.

(ii)              Agreed that outline business cases for any Advanced Waste projects are brought to Environment Scrutiny before a decision is made to proceed.

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 regarding Advanced Waste Partnership Working.

In response to Member’s questions the Executive Councillor for Environmental & Waste Services confirmed the following:

(i)                Undertook to provide further information in future to the Environment Scrutiny Committee concerning RECAP partnership activities.

(ii)              The Council was reviewing joint working initiatives with other local authorities. Each was in a different position at present, and so were not involved in each other’s financial decisions. For example, the mechanical biological treatment facility undertaken by Peterborough as its own private finance initiative.

The committee resolved unanimously to adopt the recommendation.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendation.

Conflicts of interest declared by the Executive Councillor (and any dispensations granted)

Not applicable.