Services, Climate and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee - 11 March 2026 - 5:30pm

The Cambridge City Council Services, Climate and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on March 11, 2026, to review the midterm update of the Biodiversity Strategy 2026-2031. The committee discussed progress on habitat condition improvements, biodiversity net gain targets, and the designation of new local nature reserves. Key procurement-related topics included the council's commitment to achieving a 20% biodiversity net gain on council-led developments, exceeding the national minimum, and the challenges of securing funding for aspirational biodiversity projects. The committee also reviewed the Greater Cambridge Waste Service contract awarded to a supplier with a state-of-the-art facility, noting the procurement process involved multiple councils and was rerun due to affordability issues. Members emphasized the importance of improved communication with the public regarding biodiversity works and recommended strengthening internal coordination across council departments. The Urban Forest Strategy was also discussed, focusing on tree retention, planting diversity, and managing conflicts between urban development and tree preservation. The committee agreed to recommend the updated biodiversity strategy and local nature reserve designations to cabinet for adoption, with additional recommendations on communication and interdepartmental collaboration.