Agenda and minutes

The Chair made several brief housekeeping announcements.

Apologies have been received from Councillor Sally Ann Hart. To receive apologies from committee and other Members. 

Councillors Tom Bygott and Sally Ann Hart sent apologies.

There were no declarations of interest.

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 28 March 2023 as a correct record.

By affirmation, the Committee authorised the Chair to sign, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 28 March 2023.

Councillor Judith Rippeth had not been present at that meeting so was not part of the affirmation.

If you would like to ask a question or make a statement, then please refer to the

Document called Public Speaking Scheme (Physical Meetings)

and contact the Scrutiny and Governance Adviser in Democratic Services by no later than 11.59pm on Wednesday 19 April 2023.

Mr. Daniel Fulton (Fews Lane Consortium) will ask the following question:

“Does the chair of the scrutiny and overview committee feel that individuals with disabilities can make valuable contributions to society? If so, does he feel that public authorities should make reasonable adjustments to allow individuals with disabilities to participate in public life, or should public officers be at liberty to discriminate against individuals with disabilities when doing so may benefit some political or pecuniary interest?”

Mr. Daniel Fulton had registered to ask a question but was unable to attend the meeting. As requested by him, the question was not asked in his absence and no answer was provided.

The Scrutiny and Overview Committee considered a draft Cabinet report that focussed on waste collection optimisation, past and future housing development, legislative change, and the trial of a four-day-week waste collection service subject to receiving approval from Cambridge City Council as this Council’s partner in the Greater Cambridge Shared Waste Service (GCSWS). At the Chair’s invitation, the Head of Climate, Environment and Waste gave a brief overview of the proposals.

In reply to Councillor Richard Stobart, the Head of Climate, Environment and Waste summarised the methodology adopted. He said that GCSWS had appointed an experienced consultancy company (ISL) to advise it about how best to conduct the review. ISL had used industry-recognised software to undertake their analysis and modelling. Their approach had involved establishing a baseline for the existing operations based on vehicle type, the nature and weight of materials collected, travel time, collection areas and destination for treatment and disposal. ISL had also looked at data mapping tools. The baseline models for each waste stream (recycling, organic and residual waste) had then been checked and refined against actual data collected from in-vehicle software and the depot weighbridge. Having been calibrated, the baseline models had then been used to assess alternative solutions for refreshing the collection of each of the waste streams.

Councillor Sue Ellington asked whether the proposed four-day-week was affecting South Cambridgeshire District Council’s relationship with local authorities such as Huntingdonshire District Council, and whether this Council would be causing them problems if new working arrangements had the effect of attracting their own refuse operatives. She also asked about South Cambridgeshire operatives working elsewhere on their non-working day. Councillor Henry Batchelor (Lead Cabinet Member for Environment) informed the Committee that the feedback from waste collection crews at both South Cambridgeshire District Council and Cambridge City Council, as well as from Trade Unions, had been positive. Officers felt that, on balance, the benefits were likely to outweigh any risks, and that South Cambridgeshire District Council would be setting an example that other local authorities might eventually follow.

The Waste Policy Officer said that several options existed for developing a new working pattern that focussed on improving the health and wellbeing of staff.

Councillor Anna Bradnam observed that long-term injury among waste collection operatives might increase as a result of implementing a four-day-week for them. Councillor Bradnam said it would be crucial to monitor the situation and, if possible, identify injuries picked up as a result of the 4-Day-Week and those resulting from activities, such as other manual labour, pursued on Non-Working Days. The Lead Cabinet Member for Environment acknowledged the high-risk nature of some jobs and assured the Committee that health and wellbeing would be treated as being of paramount importance.

Councillor Helene Leeming asked officers to amend the report to Cabinet on 15 May 2023 so that the financial implications set out in paragraphs 43 to 48 were more transparent.

The Committee explored the overall impact of introducing a four-day-week. This included anticipated costs and net environmental benefits,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Members received and noted the Scrutiny and Overview Committee work programme attached to the agenda.

Councillor Richard Stobart, Chair of the Young People Task & Finish Group, updated the Committee about the Group’s progress to date, highlighting a separate meeting with officers already promoting youth engagement with the Greater Cambridge Shared Planning Service. The Scrutiny and Overview Committee Vice-Chair thanked Councillor Stobart for his leadership of the Task & Finish Group.

Thursday 8 June 2023 at the new time of 5.30pm.

Members noted that the meeting scheduled for 11 May 2023 had been cancelled and that the next Scrutiny and Overview Committee meeting would take place on Thursday 8 June 2023 starting at the new time of 5.30pm.