Agenda and draft minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Colwell

To approve the minutes from the Environment and Community Panel held on 20^th October 2025.

RESOLVED: The Minutes from the previous meeting were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

Those declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chair proposed to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972.

There was none.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chair of their intention to do so and what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.  

Councillor Kemp, Sandell, Devulapalli (Teams) and Moore were present under Standing Order 34.

There was none.

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Franco Murphy, the Operations Director from Serco Waste gave a presentation to the Panel, a copy which is attached.

The Chair thanked Officers for the presentation and invited comments and questions from the Panel.

Councillor Heneghan, Long, Devulapalli and Kemp thanked the Serco Team along with the Waste and Recycling Manager for all their hard work specifically during the recent bad weather.

Councillor Heneghan questioned if there were any targets for recycling and sought further clarification on issues Serco were having with recruitment and a male dominated workforce.

Franco Murphy, the Operations Director from Serco Waste explained Serco had tried to recruit females however been unsuccessful but provided assurance Serco had a Women in Waste Project which encouraged females to join their workforce.

Councillor Long commented on the progress of the contract with Serco since it had started and praised the Waste and Recycling Manager. He commented following Local Government Reorganisation the contract needed to be fought for to be kept.

In response to a question from the Chair, Councillor Collop on garden waste bins, the Waste and Recycling Manager clarified that the number of subscribers remains stable at around 29,800, with only a slight decrease over the winter. Franco Murphy, the Operations Director from Serco Waste added there was a reduction in tonnage in 2025 due to the dry summer.

In response to a question from Councillor Sandell under Standing Order 34, the Waste and Recycling Manager explained Serco doesn’t provide the service to the Borough Council for deceased animal collection as the Open Spaces team within the Borough Council collect deceased animals on the roadside but there was a separate contract for the disposal of the animals.

Franco Murphy, the Operations Director from Serco Waste explained the improvement plan in further detail in response to Councillor Devulapalli questions under Standing Order 34. He outlined Serco was reserved on the use of electric vehicles due to long journeys in rural areas. He referred to reductions in mileage and fuel usage.

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor Kemp welcomed the focus on health and wellbeing of Serco employees. She commented on the work Norfolk County Council were doing on lithium batteries not being put in the bin and questioned if the vehicles had messaging on for batteries to inform residents.

The Waste and Recycling Manager explained there was recycling messaging to inform residents. He reminded the Panel, Serco collects electrical items and batteries by residents putting them out separately to their bins. He confirmed this was communicated through social media. Franco Murphy, the Operations Director from Serco Waste confirmed they had their own messaging and communications.

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor Moore commented messaging would be more appropriate on resident’s bins rather than Serco lorries.

The Waste and Recycling Manager confirmed messaging on lithium batteries could be included on the bin calendar which went out to all residents.

The Portfolio Holder, Councillor Squire thanked the Waste and Recycling Manager along  ...  view the full minutes text for item EC52:

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The Corporate Governance Manager gave a presentation which supported the report.

The Chair thanked, the Corporate Governance Manager for the report and invited questions and comments from the Panel.

Councillor Heneghan commented the Labour Group were proud to put this motion forward and happy the Borough Council are accredited and all the work which had been done so far.

Councillor Ware questioned how success/failure was to be evaluated going forward.

The Corporate Governance Manager explained how the Council can work with local schools was being considered. She commented Schools were already teaching healthy relationships. She added the action plan had not yet been shaped but the four key principles from White Ribbon UK were to implemented. She added working with other partnerships was key.

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor Kemp commented on the importance of the campaign and awareness had been increased. She questioned what work would be done with the College and local Schools.

Councillor Barclay left the meeting at 5:34pm.

The Corporate Governance Manager confirmed the College of West Anglia was White Ribbon accredited and have been in contact to work together. She commented the focus was education however working with schools was still being considered.

The Portfolio Holder, Councillor Rust thanked the Officers for all their work and commented on the importance of being accredited. She explained working with children was in progress.

RESOLVED: The Panel noted the report.

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The Corporate Governance Manager gave a presentation which supported the report.

The Chair thanked, the Corporate Governance Manager for the report and invited questions and comments from the Panel.

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor Kemp welcomed the report and the focus of safeguarding. She commented as Councillors, safeguarding was important to help vulnerable residents.

The Portfolio Holder, Councillor Rust welcomed member training on safeguarding and commented the importance of the factsheet for Councillors and the impact safeguarding has on Councillors.

RESOLVED: The Environment and Community Panel supported the following recommendations to Cabinet:

Cabinet Resolves:

Cabinet is recommended to resolve that:

1.     Cabinet endorses and adopts the revised Safeguarding Policy.

2.     Cabinet agrees that the Members’ Code of Conduct is updated to include explicit safeguarding responsibilities.

3.     Delegate authority to amend/update this policy to ensure it remains compliant with legislation to a member of the executive team in consultation with the relevant portfolio holder.

Recommendations to Full Council:

That Cabinet approves a recommendation to amend the Member Code of Conduct to include explicit reference to safeguarding responsibilities

RESOLVED: The Panel’s Work Programme was noted.

To note that the next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel is scheduled to take place on 24^th February 2026 at 4.30pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall.

The next meeting of the Environment and Community Panel was scheduled to take place on 24^th February 2026 at 4.30pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.