Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Operations on progressing the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Waste Partnership in order to gain the maximum advantage for the authorities collectively.

Adopted the contents of the RECAP Advanced Partnership Working Charter and agreed to submit outlining business cases for any advance waste projects to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) prior to any discussion being made to proceed.

Pursuant to Minute No 06/124 and 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 background to a partnership charter for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Waste Partnership (RECAP) aimed at enhancing partnership working.

By way of introduction, Members were reminded that RECAP, established in 1990, consisted of Cambridgeshire County Council, Peterborough City Council and Cambridgeshire's District Councils.  Particular mention was made of the success of the Partnership's work to reduce waste and of proposals to develop specific advanced waste projects.  The Charter has been discussed by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) arising from which some concern had been expressed over the cultural differences of the various organisations and problems with reaching an agreement when negotiating such matters. Having noted that individual business cases for any advance waste projects will be considered by the Panel, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that the RECAP Advanced Partnership Working Charter be adopted and outline business cases for any advance waste projects be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) prior to any decision being made to proceed.

To consider a report by the Head of Operations on progressing the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Waste Partnership in order to gain the maximum advantage for the authorities collectively.

(Councillor D M Tysoe, Executive Councillor for the Environment, was in attendance for this item)

Councillor D M Tysoe introduced a report by the Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) on moving the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Waste Partnership (RECAP) to the next level of partnership working in order to gain the maximum advantage collectively for the partner authorities.

Having acknowledged that the work of RECAP represented an excellent example of Countywide partnership working which delivered significant benefits to Cambridgeshire, Members supported the proposals to formalise relationships with neighbouring authorities in order to deliver further benefits to residents.  Members were advised that before any costs were incurred by the Council individual business cases would be brought to the Panel for comment.

Members highlighted the facts that the Council’s waste collection service had high satisfaction levels and was delivered at a relatively low cost per household.  In that light, the Panel questioned whether the Council’s performance levels would be compromised by the proposal for greater joint working.  In response, Members were advised that joint working would lead to greater savings and improve the trade waste function which would be of benefit to the business community.

The Panel referred to the possibility of using waste to generate electricity. It was noted that this might be considered in the future.  Members also questioned whether waste separation would be viable at the Waterbeach waste facility. However, at present the plant would be unable to cope with the changes in the calorific value of the waste that was being processed and, as such, this would be a costly process.

Members discussed whether the negotiations on the advanced waste partnership would be successful. They questioned whether the political will existed for all partners to commit to enhanced partnership working and pointed out that some partner authorities had low levels of resources available to develop their services.

The Head of Operations acquainted the Panel with details of a route optimisation project which was being undertaken. The aim of the project was to achieve the most effective waste collection service possible across the County.  It was hoped this project would result in a collection round being saved from June 2012.  In response to a question by a Member it was reported that cross county route optimisation would be difficult to co-ordinate but might be considered in the future.

Owing to their involvement in reviewing the business cases for advanced waste projects, a planned visit by the Waste Collection Working Group to the Waterbeach waste facility was extended to all Members of the Panel in order that they might familiarise themselves with its operation and potential for service development.

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be recommended to adopt the RECAP Advanced Partnership Working Charter and that outline business cases for any advanced waste projects be brought to the Overview and Scrutiny (Environmental Well Being) Panel before a decision is made to proceed.