Agenda item

Report and recommendations will be circulated following the meeting of Cabinet on 20^th May 2025. 

Published on 21.05.25. 

The Committee received a presentation and report from the Chief Officer - Environment and Place in order to consider the implications of the implementation of the Government’s waste strategy in their work programme and make appropriate policy recommendations to Cabinet. 

It was reported that, at its meeting held on 20^th May 2025, Cabinet had considered the waste strategy.  The report to Cabinet was appended to the reported submitted to the Committee.  After considering the report Cabinet had resolved:

(1)   That in order to deliver the outcomes required by the national waste strategy, and having taken into account a range of factors including the need to reduce waste, increase recycling, provide a service that meets the needs of our residents and that is financially viable, Option 2 as set out in the report, be agreed as the delivery model for waste collection from 31st March 2026.

(2)   That having approved Option 2 as the delivery model Cabinet approve the capital investment of wheelie bin recycling as included in the development section of the Capital Programme, with a provisional operation commencement date of 1st April 2026.

(3)   The proposals included in the report have been arrived at to ensure the Government’s waste strategy is implemented within the financial and operational context of the Lancaster District. They also seek to reduce the overall quantity of household waste, to increase the proportion of household waste that is recycled and to maximise our eligibility for relevant Government funding in the future.  They are underpinned by extensive analysis, due diligence and appropriate consultation.

It is very much recognised that prior to actual implementation, from April 2026, there will be a need for agreement of local policy with regard to specific waste collection issues. As such it is recommended that -

(a)        The Portfolio holder and Chief Officer lead the formation of a waste collection policy implementation group (consisting of cross party members and appropriate officers) to report back to report its recommendations back to Cabinet in the autumn. This group will develop a terms of reference that will include engagement and consultation with residents and service users. 

(b)        Overview and Scrutiny Committee will have a report and presentation on this matter at their meeting on 28^th May. Cabinet further invites Overview and Scrutiny to consider the implications of the implementation of the Government’s waste strategy in their work programme and make appropriate policy recommendations to Cabinet. 

Councillor Paul Hart, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Councillor Tim Hamilton-Cox, Cabinet Member for Finance and Property, were in attendance at the meeting and together with the Chief Officer responded to questions from the Committee. 

Members of the Committee asked a number of questions regarding the areas to focus on to improve the collection of waste and recycling, how to make recycling more successful, ways to provide information and education, staff working with and visiting residents to help resolve issues including the collection of medical waste, work being undertaken on Lancaster University’s campus, suggestions that the Council also work with primary schools, consideration of incentive schemes to encourage recycling, issues regarding recycling and waste collection from terraced houses, queries regarding collection of food waste, benchmarking with other local authorities and areas that are seen to provide best practice, consultation with residents and the Council’s Communication Strategy and the recommendations of Cabinet. 

Following consideration of the presentation, the report and responses to questions raised at the meeting the Committee resolved as follows. 

Resolved : -

That Overview and Scrutiny considers the implications of the implementation of the Government’s waste strategy in their work programme and awaits feedback from the Waste Collection Policy Implementation Group and report back to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee prior to making appropriate policy recommendations to Cabinet.