Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Couch and Gooch.

Councillor Milham was present as Substitute Member for Councillor Couch.

There were no urgent items.

There were no Visiting Members.

The Chairman intended to take Item 11 – Annualised Garden Waste Subscriptions, prior to Item 10 – The Biodiversity and Change Action Plan Update and Annual Review 2024, to allow the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Enforcement to attend for Item 11.

There were no disclosures by Members or Officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED: That all items on the agenda be taken in public, with Item 12 – Part II Minutes of the Meeting held on 3 September 2024 to be considered alongside Item 8 – Minutes of the Meeting held on 3 September 2024, unless any Committee Member wished to refer to the information contained within the exempt minutes in which case the Committee would have to enter into closed session due to the likely disclosure of exempt information for the reasons specified having applied the Public Interest Test.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 3 September 2024 be approved as a correct record and signed.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Transition and Nature Recovery stated that the Allocation of Council Land For Biodiversity Net Gain Off Site Provision item had been moved to early 2025 to consult with ward members and account for the appointment of a new Biodiversity and Climate Change Manager.

RESOLVED: That the Forward Plan relating to the Committee’s Terms of Reference, be noted.

The Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Enforcement introduced the report and stated that it was proposed to move the subscriptions for garden waste collections from a 12 month rolling contract to a fixed annual subscription. It was outlined that garden waste collection crews currently struggled to identify properties that had an active subscription, due to residents cancelling subscriptions or moving properties, and that an annual subscription with permit would reduce the amount of garden bins that are collected but unpaid for.

In response to questions, the Head of Environmental Services and Public Realm stated that each subscriber would be provided with a tamper proof sticker, which would be designated a different colour depending on the year of the subscription. Each sticker would also include the road name of the property to deter theft.

The Committee expressed support for the proposal, as it was felt that the proposal would reduce the amount of garden bins collected but had not been paid for.

RESOLVED to RECOMMEND to the CABINET: That

1.  A fixed annual subscription period from 1 July every year is introduced.

2.  Annual permits are provided to all households subscribing to the service.

3.  All existing and new subscriptions are transitioned onto the new arrangements as set out in Appendix 1 of the report at the point of renewal or new subscription.

4.  The design of the sticker is agreed in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Enforcement.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Transition and Nature Recovery introduced the item and outlined the action plan updates. An annual review of the action plan and strategy had been delayed until March 2025 to align the plan with the Council’s new Strategic Plan and the budget after the change of political administration.

The Committee thanked officers for progress made on the action plan since the last update in February 2024.

RESOLVED: That progress on the Biodiversity and Climate Change Action plan be noted.

RESOLVED: That the item be considered alongside Item 8 – Minutes of the Meeting on 3 September 2024.

6.30 p.m. to 6.49 p.m.