The Community Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Cornwall Council met to discuss a range of topics, including the Resources and Waste Strategy Delivery Plan, the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service People Culture and Leadership Programme review, and the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Capital Replacement Programme for 2025-26. The committee also undertook a mid-year review of its work programme.

Resources and Waste Strategy Delivery Plan

The committee was scheduled to consider the Resources and Waste Strategy Delivery Plan, following the adoption of the Resources and Waste Strategy 2025–2045 in March 2025. The Resources and Waste Strategy Delivery Plan sets out how Cornwall Council intends to deliver effective and efficient waste services in line with national policy and legislation.

The plan is based around five key principles:

• Following the waste hierarchy, prioritising prevention, reuse, and recycling over disposal.
• Meeting government targets, including achieving 65% household recycling by 2035 and reducing residual waste to 287 kg per person by 2042.
• Delivering value for money, ensuring services are efficient and effective.
• Reducing carbon emissions, supporting Cornwall's carbon neutrality goals.
• Empowering communities, engaging residents, businesses, and visitors in sustainable waste behaviours.

The Resources and Waste Strategy Delivery Plan outlines nine strategic objectives supported by key workstreams such as waste prevention, infrastructure planning, and local environmental quality. It includes detailed actions for 2025/26 and a roadmap to 2045, with annual reviews to ensure responsiveness to legislative changes, funding opportunities, and performance data.

Key early actions on the Strategy Delivery Plan include:

• Launching targeted waste prevention campaigns.
• Expanding recycling collection to include cartons, plastic bags, and wrappings ahead of national deadlines.
• Reviewing fleet and infrastructure to support future service growth.
• Reviewing the design of waste collection services.

The report pack also included a recommendation to make permanent the booking system trial implemented at 7 of the 14 Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs). The report stated that the system has delivered measurable benefits including:

• Reduced traffic congestion and queuing.
• Improved recycling rates (+3%).
• Enhanced customer satisfaction (82% found the system easy to use).
• Better site management and safety.
• No increase in fly-tipping associated with the system.

The report pack stated that the booking system aligns with national trends and has been validated through community engagement and consultation.

The report pack stated that the Resources and Waste Strategy Delivery Plan is initially supported by the Extended Producer Responsibility for packaging (pEPR) grant¹. The report pack stated that the Scrutiny Committee's role is critical in ensuring the Strategy Delivery Plan is robust, equitable, and aligned with Cornwall's strategic priorities, and that their feedback will help shape a future-proof plan that delivers tangible benefits for residents, the environment, and the local economy.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service People Culture and Leadership Programme Review

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service's People Culture and Leadership Programme. The report pack stated that the programme's key focus areas for the following year are:

• Performance management
• Talent management and succession planning

The report pack stated that the Community Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as the Fire and Rescue Authority's responsible scrutiny function, has responsibility for scrutiny and oversight of the work of the fire and rescue service, and that this includes securing assurance that the People, Culture and Leadership programme is addressing the areas for improvement and delivering the objectives set out in the programme.

The report pack stated that fire and rescue services are in a period of national reform, and that there are a number of influences for this reform which is largely focused on culture, values, conduct and productivity & performance. The report pack stated that performance against these areas are assessed through the inspection programme by His Majesties Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

The report pack stated that in the last three years HMICFRS has produced the following reports:

• Values and culture in fire and rescue services Report March 2023
• Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Inspection Report September 2023
• Standards of behaviour: The handling of misconduct in fire and rescue services Report August 2024

The report pack stated that all three reports highlight the need for increased consistency, nationally, and improvement, with specific recommendations from each of the above reports in relation to the priority areas for change, and that the service has a requirement to report on progress against national recommendations outlined in these reports.

The report pack stated that the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) has implemented a number of Fire Standards, and that the expectation of HMICFRS is that fire and rescue services will implement Fire Standards, which provide clear expectations of good practice. The report pack stated that there is an ongoing recognition from the inspectorate that compliance with the fire standards align with an improved inspection outcome.

The report pack stated that there are three key people related fire standards: Leading the Service, Leading and Developing People and Code of Ethics, and that these standards have informed the development of the service's PCL programme. The report pack stated that the service has also ensured alignment to the National Chief Fire Council (NFCC) People Culture and Leadership Board, which has an ambitious 3 year strategy and annual delivery plan which reflects the pace of change required

The report pack stated that the PCL programme has been in place for two years and has achieved the following to date:

• Successful wholetime recruitment campaign, with twelve new firefighters completing their training and joining their stations in August 2025.
• A full review of misconduct handling with revised policies and toolkits, training for all managers and a case debrief process to support organisational learning.
• External cultural review with intervention workshops held with staff.
• A review of communication and engagement within service with a new Communication framework developed and implemented.
• Implementation of a new vetting and barring policy with a roll out of appropriate checks for all fire staff.
• A review of people policies and a number updated in line with NFCC guidance.
• Improved wellbeing offering to support the needs of staff within CFRS to be able to fulfil their role.

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Capital Replacement Programme for 2025/26

The committee was scheduled to discuss Cornwall Fire and Rescue's Capital replacement programme, which the report pack stated is aligned to the service's Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP).

The report pack stated that during 2025, CFRS have estimated a spend of £3.631 million from its capital budget.

The report pack stated that for vehicles, these procurements are to provide five Medium Response Pumps [MRP]², seven utility vehicles, two welfare trailers, three light 4 x 4 vehicles. The report pack stated that for equipment, these procurements are to provide four new sets of battery electric crash rescue equipment, four light portable pumps for new MRPs, four new sets of ladders for MRPs.

The report pack stated that for Information Technology, these procurements are to provide MIS enhancement and replacements, drones, body worn cameras for officers, Vision - five-year tech refresh and software upgrades – Vision is the software used by Fire Control to mobilise CFRS assets.

The report pack stated that for estate improvements, these procurements are to provide the upgrading of welfare facilities at eight fire stations identified by His Majesties Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) that require improvement to Gender Appropriate Facilities, and the Introduction of Geargrid locker solutions, station zoning guidance for clean and dirty areas with decontamination procedures for minimising firefighter exposure to fire toxic effluents.

The report pack stated that during 2026, CFRS have estimated a spend of £3.594 million from its capital budget.

The report pack stated that for vehicles, these procurements are to provide four x MRP's secondary call off from contract awarded in 2025, one Incident Command Unit and two Operational Support Units.

The report pack stated that for equipment, these procurements are to provide four new sets of battery electric crash rescue equipment, four light portable pumps for new MRP's, four new sets of ladders for the new MRP's.

Committee Work Programme 2025/26 – Mid-year Review

The committee was scheduled to undertake a mid-year review of its work programme. The report pack stated that the work programmes for the Overview and Scrutiny Committees (OSC) are a vital tool in identifying, prioritising, conducting and reviewing their work and ensuring effective use of resources, and that there is a constitutional requirement for these Committees (with the exception of the Budget Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee) to have a work programme.

The report pack stated that each OSC has undertaken an informal mid-year work programming review session using the tools set out in the Overview and Scrutiny Protocol, which is the Council's agreed way of working for the function, and that the report sets out the outcome of that process.

The report pack stated that in accordance with the Protocol, there has been consultation and engagement with all Members on the contents of the work programme, and that Members have had the opportunity to make suggestions for the mid-year review of the work programme.

The report pack stated that the public have had the opportunity to make suggestions for OSCs to consider, and that 1 suggestion was received from a member of the public in respect of Rubbish collection, recycling and litter. The report pack stated that Members acknowledged the issues raised and noted that the Council's Waste Strategy was currently scheduled for consideration by the Committee at its 13 November meeting.

The report pack stated that Officers have had the opportunity to make suggestions for the mid-year review of the work programme and that 1 suggestion was received in respect of 'Removal of Taxi Zones'. The report pack stated that Members agreed that this item be added to the work programme for formal consideration at the Committee's January meeting.

Cabinet Member Updates

The committee was scheduled to receive updates from Councillor Thalia Marrington, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Public Health, and Councillor Loic Rich, Cabinet Member for Environment & Climate Change, and Councillor Sarah Preece, Cabinet Member for Tourism, Localism & Planning.

Councillor Thalia Marrington's update included information on:

• A consultation on when dogs should be allowed on beaches.
• A consultation on plans to remove taxi zones in Cornwall.
• Preparations for the fourth full inspection from His Majesties Inspectorate.
• A Community Risk Management Plan Update.
• The 2024 Drug Related Death Report.

Councillor Loic Rich's update included information on:

• The Resources and Waste Strategy Delivery Plan.
• A visit to Penmount Crematorium.
• The opening of a Kernow Reuse shop at Helston Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC).

Councillor Sarah Preece's update included information on:

• The Local Plan and Local Plan Engagement Sessions.
• The Visit Cornwall CIC Liquidation.