Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Operations seeking approval of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Joint Municipal Waste Strategy.

Approved the contents of the revised Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Joint Municipal Waste Strategy.

By way of a report by the Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the contents of a revised Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy. The Cabinet were reminded that the original Strategy had been adopted by Council in 2002 and was to be reviewed after 5 years, although the recycling plans appended to the Strategy had already been dealt with in 2005.

With regard to the changes proposed, Members noted that the revised document had retained the original principles and addressed the following key themes and associated objectives and actions:-

• Underlying strategic principles for the Waste Strategy
• Joint working
• Climate change
• Protection of the environment
• Waste prevention and reuse
• Recycling and composting
• Management of residual waste
• Wider waste roles; and
• Stakeholder engagement

Members were advised that the adoption of the new Strategy would have no additional financial implications for the Council.  Having noted the comments of the Overview & Scrutiny (Service Delivery) Panel on the matter and in congratulating residents for their continuing efforts in recycling which had resulted in the Strategy target for 2010/11 of 55-60% already having been achieved, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the revised Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Joint Municipal

Waste Strategy be approved.

To consider a report by the Head of Operations on the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Joint Municipal Waste Strategy.

15 Minutes.

(Councillor C R Hyams, Executive Councillor for Operational and Countryside Services, was in attendance for this item).

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel were acquainted with the contents of a revised Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Joint Municipal Waste Strategy.

By way of background, the Head of Operations, Mr R Ward, reported that the original Strategy had been adopted by the Council in 2002 and that the Recycling Plans appended to the Strategy had been reviewed in 2005. Members’ attention was drawn to partner authorities’ achievement of performance targets for recycling and composting. As a result the revised Strategy focused on new priority areas such as business waste and environmental issues. The revised Strategy would have no financial implications for the Council.

In response to a question by the Chairman, Mr Ward reported that actions to reduce the impact of waste management activities on climate change would only be pursued where they were financially viable. Following a further question on the effects of the closure of the Buckden waste disposal facility, Mr Ward confirmed that this had made no difference to the distances travelled by the Council’s refuse vehicles and that it had produced benefits in terms of reduced damage to vehicles.

In the course of further discussions questions were raised regarding the level of commercial waste generated in the District and the measures that had been introduced to encourage commercial waste recycling. Mr Ward reported that external funding had been received to carry out pilot studies into recycling initiatives for small businesses with a view to introducing schemes across the County. Having endorsed the content of the Strategy, the Panel

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be recommended to approve the adoption of the revised Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Joint Municipal Waste Strategy.