Issue - meetings

To consider proposals for the business plan, revenue budget estimates, capital programme and proposed fees and charges in respect of the Council’s priority area of Environment.

The Committee RECOMMENDED that:

1.    Cabinet approves the Environment Business Plan and the Bereavement Services Business Plan.

2.    Cabinet recommends to Council that the following be approved:

a)     The detailed revenue budget estimates for 2025/26 (base)

b)     The capital programme for 2025/26 to 2027/28

 c)    The fees and charges for 2025/26.

Members considered proposals for the business plan, revenue budget estimates, capital programme and proposed fees and charge in respect of the Councils priority areas of Environment. The priorities and objectives for Environment was protect the environment for the future this would be achieved by reducing carbon emissions and improve air quality, continue to invest in parks and open and spaces, and reduce the amount of waste disposed if in the black lidded bin and increase recycling and composting. Questions and comments from the Committee included:

·     Environmental Events across the Borough had been well attended.

·     To ensure the new Play Strategy included recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with regards to Neurodiversity and accessibility.

·     Positive comments received from Members with the Bulky Waste days and the Street Cleaning Team.

·     Woodland Burial Interest

·     New developments had contributed to the missed bins increase. The Team collects over 5.5 million bin collections annually. The figure achieved in 2023/24 represented 0.3% of the total collections across the Borough.

The Committee RECOMMENDED that:

1.    Cabinet approves the Environment Business Plan and the Bereavement Services Business Plan.

2.    Cabinet recommends to Council that the following be approved:

a)The detailed revenue budget estimates for 2025/26 (base)

b)The capital programme for 2025/26 to 2027/28

c)  The fees and charges for 2025/26.