Issue - meetings

8.30pm

The Committee received a report from the Public Realm Manager regarding environmental data which provided an overview of City Council Refuse and Environment and Streets and Open Spaces service activity relating to the geographical area served by the West/Central Area Committee.

 

Comments from members of the public.

 

Colin Rosenstiel:

     i.        Asked if the Officer could clarify the process for requesting bins.  A bin was required on Kings Street outside the take away premises.

 

 

Member of the public:

     i.        Enquired if foot-operated dog-fouling bins be installed as these were more hygienic.

 

Member of the public:

     i.        Noted that the area around Garratt Hostel Lane and Burrells Walk was full of fast food wrappers brought from the local food traders.

    ii.        Stated that rubbish was placed inside hedge rows along Burrells Walk.

   iii.        Requested that enforcement be used immediately.

 

Comments from the Committee:

 

Councillor Reiner:

     i.        Stated it was important to ensure that work was not duplicated by the City Council and Cambridge BID.

    ii.        Stated that the scheduled Market ward blitz for June would not be a good time due to the nesting season.

   iii.        Observed the report gave the impression that one size fits all and questioned whether the proposals would meet the needs of all the wards across the City.

  iv.        Noted an increase in litter on rubbish and recycling days. Suggested that street cleaning could be done on the same day after the collection instead of to the suggested ward blitzes and that cleansing crews could follow refuse vehicles.

   v.        Asked for the evidence to the recommendations. 

 

Councillor Cantrill:

     i.        Was not aware of extensive illegal camping; this was a subject that needed to be dealt with sensitively. If people were camping during winter they were homeless and the City Council’s Outreach should be working to be bring them into the system.

    ii.        Noted that future Newnham ward blitzes had been scheduled in October. This would not be the best time of year as the foliage would be too high.  Residents Associations organised an annual ward blitz at the end of March, just before the foliage began to grow and the water table was low. Recommended that the City Council join the residents at this time of year. 

   iii.        Requested a dog bin between the pathway of Gough Way and Cranmer Road (further details to be provided to the Public Realm Manager).

  iv.        Reported incidents of when the rubbish had been collected and pink sacks had been left for a week.

 

 

Councillor Bick:

     i.        Remarked that Cambridge BID was a significant source of street cleaning in Market Ward and requested further information on the BID contract and how they would work with the City Council.

    ii.        Stated that residential areas of Fitzroy Street and Paradise Street required regular street cleaning not just an annual blitz.

 

Councillor Reid:

     i.        Welcomed the data but asked if future reports could it split by wards as there was a difference in behaviour between City centre and the rest of the wards.

    ii.        Requested further data on the bin locations for Grantchester Meadows car park and dog fouling in this area.

   iii.        Noted that the volume of litter in Grantchester Meadows car park was weather related and high demand for regular waste removal. 

  iv.        Asked if Ward Councillors could be fully briefed on the enforcement work the dog warden took when out on patrol.

 

Councillor Holland:

     i.        Asked whether the pink sacks would be removed along Huntingdon Road if bins were to be installed.

 

In response to the Committee’s comments the Public Realm Manager noted the following:

     i.        There was a problem of illegal camping on Sheep’s Green which required multi-agency working; she could assure Councillors that this was dealt with sensitively.

    ii.        The ward blitz programmes of works were set but noted the comments for future planning and would be willing to assist with blitzes arranged by local residents.

   iii.        A meeting had been arranged with the new Cambridge BID Manager and would seek clarification on the cleaning arrangements and how they would work with the Enforcement Team.

  iv.        Comments on Fitzroy Street and Paradise Street were noted and details would be brought back to the Committee on how the cleaning had been improved.

   v.        Would speak to the Operations Team regarding the bins at Grantchester Meadows as to who owns the bins.

  vi.        Confirmed that complaints had been received regarding dog fouling in Grantchester Meadows.

 vii.        Advised that there was a part time dog warden who would judge each situation on its own merits and on some occasions education rather than enforcement was the answer.

viii.        Would liaise with the take away shops on Kings Street to enquire if they could supply a bin.

  ix.        Would take away the requests for bins with foot pedals for future consideration.

   x.        The operations team should collect the pink sacks when the bins had been emptied. The matter would be addressed.

  xi.        Complaints had been received in the last six months concerning the issues covered in the recommendations being put forward to the Committee.

 xii.        Confirmed that evidence to would be supplied for future recommendations.

xiii.        Would look at the scheduling of the ward blitzes following advice from the Committee. 

xiv.        Day to day issues would still be dealt by the Operations Team and City Rangers.

 

The Committee:

 

Councillor Smith welcomed the report and proposed the following amendment to the priority iv, additional wording underlined:

 

iv.      Deep cleanse of Garrett Hostel Lane, from Queens Road to Trinity Lane, including Burrell’s Walk area, to include the removal of graffiti, illegal flyposting, dog fouling, vegetation cut back and sweeping.

 

Resolved unanimously to approve the additional wording to priority iv.

 

Councillor Holland proposed the following amendment to the recommendation iii, additional wording underlined.

 

iii.      Pressure wash and cleanse of the public recycling points at    Castle Park, Park Street, Adam and Eve Street, Lammas           Land, the runnels on Trumpington Street, Histon Road,      and the shops around Windsor Road.

 

Resolved unanimously to approve the additional wording to priority iii.

 

Councillor Cantrill proposed that priority i be removed from the recommendations.

 

Resolved unanimously to remove priority i.

 

Resolved (unanimously) to agree the following amended and subsequently re-numbered priorities:

 

     i.        Enforcement and City Ranger patrols in the City Centre to address issues of illegally deposited trade waste

    ii.        Pressure wash and cleanse of the public recycling points at Castle Park, Park Street, Adam and Eve Street and Lammas Land, the runnells on Trumpington Street, Histon Road and the shops around Windsor Road

   iii.        Deep cleanse of Garret Hostel Lane, from Queens Road to Trinity Lane, including Burrell’s Walk area, to include the removal of graffiti, illegal flyposting, dog fouling, vegetation cut back and sweeping.

  iv.        Early morning dog warden patrols for dog fouling on Grantchester Street and Lammas Land

   v.        Enforcement and City Ranger monitoring of Milton’s Walk for domestic waste and fly tipping issues