Agenda item

Joint Report of the Chamberlain and the Executive Director of Environment.

(Note: Appendix 4 is Non-Public and can be found under Agenda Item 19).

The Committee received a joint report of the Chamberlain and the Executive Director for Environment, concerning the approval of the revenue and capital budgets for the Port Health and Environmental Services Committee for 2025/26.

The Committee heard that the cleansing service, as with budgets for all local risk services, was given a 2% annual uplift. The waste collection and street collection contract had a separate mechanism for calculating the contractual price increase each year. This was often higher than 2% and therefore a bid had been submitted for the On-Street Parking Reserve to meet the difference between the 2% uplift and the contractual increase to ensure services were maintained at current levels. This required approval from the Resource Allocation Sub-Committee (RASC).

A Member asked whether the Executive Director for Environment was confident they were able to meet the given budget. The response was a confirmation that there were no current concerns that services within the Committee’s remit would not be able to operate within the allocated budget. Budgets would be managed closely, and concerns would be highlighted to the Committee if they arose.

Following a query, the Committee heard that the responsibility and ownership of closed public conveniences facilities would be incorporated into a report to be received by the Committee later in 2025. There had been public conveniences closed in various tranches over the last 30 years, for reasons such as affordability. Those structures which still existed need to be managed in conjunction with City Surveyors. This linked in with further work required on an asset management plan for the Environment Department. It was suggested that the future report includes discussion on not using the closed structures, or those structures be used free of charge. It was noted that should those structures become commercial lettings (i.e., no longer a public convenience), these would become the responsibility of RASC.

The Committee heard that agency staff were more appropriate for staffing the public convenience facilities and allowed for a greater flexibility in staffing, to meet the seasonal demand at the facilities. .

Finally, the Committee heard that the increase of staffing at ports were the result of the introduction of new border controls on imported food and feed from both the EU and rest of world, and that the Port Health Service operated on a full cost recovery basis.

RESOLVED – That Members:

• Review and approve the proposed revenue budget for 2025/26 for submission to Finance Committee.
• Review and approve the proposed capital budgets for 2025/26 for submission to Finance Committee.
• Agree that amendments for 2024/25 and 2025/26 budgets arising from changes to recharges, energy prices or any further implications arising from subsequently approved savings proposals or changes to the Cyclical Works Programme be delegated to the Chamberlain in consultation with the Executive Director for Environment.