Issue - meetings

The Cabinet is to discuss the Overview and Scrutiny call-in of the Household Garden Waste Subscription Service.

Executive Councillor: M A Hassall

The Cabinet has noted the outcome of the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Panel’s call-in and has reaffirmed their original decision of their meeting held on 18th July 2023 with regard to the Garden Waste Subscription Service.

A special meeting was convened in order that Cabinet could consider a report prepared by the Interim Managing Director (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) in response to the call-in for the decision of the Garden Waste Subscription Service made at the Cabinet meeting on 18 July 2023 (Minute No. 23/25 refers).

The Executive Councillor for Customer Services introduced the report which, following recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Joint Panel, included figures recently provided by Cambridgeshire County Council.  In addressing the comments from the Overview and Scrutiny Joint Panel held on 10th August 2023, the Executive Councillor reassured the Cabinet that recycling waste was monitored; and the environmental impact and sensitivity analysis would be reviewed. He established that consultation with residents was not a statutory requirement; that previous Councils had made necessary decisions which, like this, had not been included in any political party’s electoral mandate; and that evidence with regard to the impact of the scheme, including for grey bin waste and vulnerable residents, was covered in the agenda. It was hoped proposals to increase Council Tax Support to 100% for the most vulnerable would assist in mitigating the impact on the most vulnerable. This would be alongside collaboration with Town and Parish Councils.

Councillors recognised another method of achieving such savings had not been identified and was therefore the decision had been necessary.

The Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Planning and Executive Councillor for Leisure, Waste and Street Scene complimented the robust scrutiny and chairing of the Overview and Scrutiny Joint Panel.

The Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources and Executive Councillor for Customer Services were pleased that the livestreaming facilities provided the opportunity for transparency. The Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources also noted that the financial sustainability of the Council had to be prioritised over electoral mandates to allow operations to continue. The Councillor for Leisure, Waste and Street Scene concurred.

The Executive Councillor for Jobs, Economy and Housing, stated councillors had conversed and empathised with both residents and the opposition group. He noted there were insufficient grounds or proposed alternative options for a non-statutory public consultation.

This was reiterated by the Executive Leader who stated the Council would continue to listen and engage with residents, but it was necessary to charge in order that the Green Bin Collection Service could continue. To mitigate the impact of the charge, the Council would explore promotion of waste reduction.

The Executive Councillor for Jobs, Economy and Housing, noted that statutory consultation had been delayed by call-in, however, could now proceed.

The Executive Leader thanked the public, Officers, Councillors and the Call Centre for their involvement in the process; and thanked the Executive Councillors for Customer Services and Finance and Resources for supporting the process.

Whereupon, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the original decision of Cabinet to progress the Garden Waste Subscription Service be endorsed.

The Panel is to discuss the call-in of the Household Garden Waste Subscription Service.

Executive Councillor: M A Hassall

Pursuant to Minute No 05/23 of the meeting of the Joint Panel held on 6th July 2023, Members gave further consideration to the proposed Garden Waste Subscription Scheme, the introduction of which had been approved by the Cabinet on 18th July 2023, but which had been called-in by Councillors Alban, Bywater, Cawley, Corney, Criswell, Gardener, Jennings, Lowe, Martin and Welton. The Joint Panel’s deliberations were assisted by an updated report by the General Manager for Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book).

In response to a question by Councillor Alban, the Interim Managing Director confirmed that legal advice had been obtained on the options available to the Joint Panel, which were to refer the matter back to the Cabinet for further consideration or to allow the Cabinet’s decision to be implemented immediately. The Constitution did not allow reference to the Council as the decision was in accordance with the Council’s policy and budget framework. The Director of Finance and Corporate Services confirmed this opinion in her capacity as S151 Officer.

The main reasons given for the call-in coalesced around finance and consultation. Following a question by Councillor Jennings the Joint Panel discussed changes that had been made to Appendix 5 since the original report was published. It was established that the MTFS contained assumptions, but information had been received from the County Council that meant the figures should be revised. It was suggested that the changes that have been made, the reasons for them and the implications for the Council should be reported to the Cabinet when it considered the outcome of the call-in.

Councillor Jennings asked a further question about the evidence obtained from other local authorities on uptake of their garden waste schemes. The General Manager for Operations referred to the Charity WRAP, which contained information on 60 local authorities.

Councillor Alban asked a question about how the proposal had emerged. A process had been established involving Joint Administration political groups to identify and examine options to improve the Council’s financial position. The proposal to introduce a subscription service emerged from that process. The process did not identify any other options, so without the subscription service it would be likely the Council would have to make service reductions and Executive Members preferred not to do this. Councillor Alban pointed out that it had been identified by officers as a potential option a number of years previously.

Councillor Corney expressed the view that the proposal was of such significance that it should be subject to public consultation. It was suggested that the consultation should seek views on alternative configurations of the service such as putting longer periods between collections. It was further argued that given the absence within the Council of ideas for other ways to improve the Council’s financial position suggestions also should be requested in this respect.

Councillor Cawley drew attention to the environmental impact of the proposal. Members were informed that it was foremostly being put forward for financial reasons. Information on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9