Decision details

Actions taken by the environmental departments, reporting on private/public realm data and priority setting.

The Committee received a report from the Enforcement Officer.

The report outlined an overview of City Council Refuse and Environment and Streets and Open Spaces service activity relating to the geographical area served by the East Area Committee. The report identified the reactive and proactive service actions undertaken in the previous quarter, including the requested priority targets, and reported back on the recommended issues and associated actions. It also included key officer contacts for the reporting of waste and refuse and public realm issues.

The following were suggestions to the Committee on what action could be considered for priority within the East Area.

            i.        Early morning, daytime and weekend patrols for dog fouling Mill Road Cemetery.

          ii.        Enforcement patrols to tackle environmental crime at Thorpe Way estate and St Matthews Street area

         iii.        Enforcement patrols to tackle fly tipping, litter, side waste and trade waste along in the Petersfield area of Mill Road.

In response to the discussion concerning graffiti on the Elizabeth Way underpass the Executive Councillor for Streets and Open Spaces advised there were plans to look at a possible arts project for the underpass in the next round of Section 106 funding. Until the project could be delivered Officers were working very hard to ensure that the underpass was kept as clean and tidy as possible.

In response to Members’ questions and questions from the public the Enforcement Officer and the Executive Councillor for Environmental Services and City Centre said the following:

       i.       Ekin Road would be kept as priority for fly tipping patrols which incorporated Thorpe Way and the surrounding areas.

     ii.       Noted the bin request for Barnes Close.

    iii.       Would speak to the dog warden to patrol the surrounding areas to Barnes Close, in particular the play park.

   iv.       The Community Pay Back Service was being used to remove graffiti in East Area including the Elizabeth Way underpass.

     v.       With regards to fly tipping the Council had the option to   prosecute or issue a fixed penalty of up to £400; generally fly tipping 15 to 20 black bags would produce a fixed penalty. Fly tipping on a larger scale would be an automatic prosecution. Community Protection Warnings and Community Protection Notices could also be issued by Officers in the first instance.

vi.          There had a number of fixed penalty notices issued to individuals on St Matthews estate and East Road estate. An individual name could be entered on a data base suspected of fly tipping to determine if they had been prosecuted previously.

vii.          Abandoned cycles were taken to a secure site on Mill Road Depot where they were held for 14 days; if there was a serial number on the bike this would be sent to the Police for information; unclaimed cycles would be given to a charity called Owl in Sawston to sell the cycles.

viii.          Noise complaints were provided by Environmental Health and a breakdown of ward location could not be supplied but would enquire with Officers if this could be done (ACTION).

ix.          Noise complaints did not always need to be investigated or a warning letter issued, as a majority of complaints were ‘a one off, such as a party could generate a number of complaints but there be no noise once the party had finished and no further action taken. 

  x.          When new needles were issued to drug users they were given sharps box dispensers. The Street Cleaning Team would regularly find these empty sharps boxes by the used needles.  Therefore it was highly unlikely that mounting fixed sharps boxes would be used. These boxes would have to be checked throughout the day by the Street Cleaning Team but would look to see if there was any alternatives could be used.

xi.          Confirmed the fixed penalty notice charge for litter offences had increased to £150 from 1 April 2018. It was going to be proposed if this was paid within 10 days Cambridge City Council would reduce the fee to £60 but this had yet to be considered by the relevant scrutiny committee.

The Committee resolved unanimously to prioritise for action as amended (additional text underlined):

i.                Early morning, daytime and weekend patrols for dog fouling – Mill Road Cemetery, Brooks Road and Argyle Street

ii.                Enforcement patrols to tackle environment crime at Thorpe Way Estate and St Matthews Street

ii.                Enforcement patrols to tackle fly tipping, little, side waste and trade waste along the Petersfield area of Mill Road.

iii.                To concentrate on the removal of needles and other drug paraphernalia on Cambridge Place and Hills Road.