Decision details

The Chair welcomed the Executive Councillor for Environment and Waste, Councillor Peter Roberts and The Asset Manager (Streets and Open Spaces), Alistair Wilson.

 

Asset Manager (S&OS) gave a verbal update on the bin priority programme and explained that this was a capital item first agreed in 2013/14. 

 

The 2014/15 programme had been delayed due to staff capacity which had allowed officers to look at adaptions to the bin programme, particularly for Parker’s Piece and at the collection methods of the waste to ensure that the process was as efficient and effective as possible.

 

The Committee were advised that the following order of works had been scheduled to take place over the summer period:

     i.        Parker’s Piece (18 bins to be installed)

    ii.        Jesus Green.

   iii.        Christ Pieces

  iv.        New Square

   v.        Queens Green (20 old style bins ordered for Queens Green to match the historical character of the site).

 

The intention was to replace the bins like for like (same location) but if there was a possibility for change there would be consultation with user groups.

 

The Executive Councillor for Environment and Waste explained that there were two programmes of works.  One project was being run by the Operations Manager (Community Engagement and Enforcement) who was working with Area Committees and would consider their suggestions of new bins and dog bin locations. Each ward in had 11 new bins and 5 dog bins to consider where they could be placed.  The Asset Manager (S&OS)  had been working on the ‘summer bins’ programme, previously these bins were temporary but it was planned to make these permanent which should long term reduce the amount of litter. 

 

A temporary steel bin would be placed on Jesus Green specifically for disposable barbecues during the summer months.

 

Comments from the Committee:

 

     i.        Shared the concerns of residents with regards to the bins installed on Parker’s Piece which were on a hard standing surface and asked why the bins had to be placed on concrete bases.

    ii.        Felt that there had been a heavy handed approach with regards to the bins on Parkers Piece and had expected Ward Councillors and Officers from Cambridgeshire County Council to be consulted.

   iii.        Queried if there were future plans to install further bins on Parker’s Piece. 

  iv.        Enquired if there could be future consultations with Councillors, Friends Groups, Residents Association and Conservation Officers to determine the best location where the bins should be installed as had been done with Queen Green.

   v.        Important to balance the need for litter clearance and the need to keep clear green open spaces. Needed to preserve the character of these spaces.

  vi.        Asked when would there be recycling facilities installed on Laundress Green and would there be public consultation on this matter.

 vii.        Queried what the rationale had been to make the summer bins permanent and stated that public consultation was required before the bins become permanent. A commitment was required from the Executive Councillor on this.

viii.        Enquired if the Executive Councillor was aware of the Parker’s Piece Conservation Plan which encouraged a landscape of uncluttered land. 

  ix.        Advised that a resident had stated that refuse collectors had rejected to take a blue bin away as it had been placed a meter away from the kerb and asked if this was the correct procedure.

   x.        Asked if the bins on Parker’s Piece be moved to a better location and the grass restored.

  xi.        Queried if litter picks still took place on Parker’s Piece.

 xii.        Suggested that the Council’s code of consultation should be read by the Executive Councillor as an invitation to one meeting for consultation was not sufficient.

xiii.        Advised that consultation on street bins had taken place by the previous administration.

 

The Asset Manager (S&OS) and the Executive Councillor for Environment and Waste responded with the following:

 

 

     i.        There must be a pragmatic approach; public spaces which are heavily used require extra bins as the bins filled up quickly.

    ii.        The cost of a litter pick was more expensive than emptying the bins.

   iii.        The location of bins had been mapped out to help improve proficiency of the litter collection as phase 1 of the improvement programme. 

  iv.        Technology was currently being investigated that would alert the Street Team when bins were full which could help reduce staff time and costs.

   v.        All Councillors had been invited to attend the original meeting to discuss the plans for both projects (new bins and replacement bins). The item had also been taken to the Environment Scrutiny Committee.

  vi.        Resident groups had been made aware of the bin maps for proposed locations around the City but there was no such group for Parker’s Piece.

 vii.        Additional bins had been requested by residents on New Square

viii.        The bins placed on Queens Green were not fixed and would be replaced permanently by the older style.

  ix.        A practical approach needed to be adopted when determining bin designs.

   x.        Agreed that adequate consultation had not been undertaken regarding the bins on Parker’s Piece and there would be a review on the location of some of the bins.

     i.        Future plans would be circulated to resident groups for their consideration and if there was no resident group’s advice would be taken from Ward Councillors. 

    ii.        If residents were unhappy with the location of the bins they could be changed or relocated such as those on Parker’s Piece if practically possible.

   iii.        Residents were welcome to contact their local Councillors if they would like to make any changes to location of bins in their area.

  iv.        Confirmed there was no Council rule to state that the blue bin could not be taken away if it was a meter away from the kerb.

   v.        Historically the Council had not consulted on location and type of bins in the City.

 

The Chair thanked both the Executive Councillor for Waste and Environment and the Asset Manager (S&OS) for their comments.