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118 Environmental Data Reports - WAC PDF 3 MB
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Minutes:
The Committee received a report from the Operations Manager (Community
Engagement and Enforcement) 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
i.
Asked if the paths on Coe Fen and Midsummer Common
could be cleaned after the cattle had left.
ii.
Enquired if planning notices could be taken down
when they were out of date.
iii.
Queried what kind of permission was required to put
up oversized posters or banners on railings.
iv.
Thanked the Council for installing two bins on King
Street outside the takeaway premises and stated it was surprising that it was
not the owner’s responsibility.
Comments from the Committee
i.
Would like to highlight how effective the cleaning
of the runnels had been and would like to keep the project running.
ii.
There were two recycling centres in Market Ward
with one in Adam and Eve Street which was also experiencing issues
iii.
Asked what was possibility there was for
partnership working with the University for such events as the May Ball and if
the Council worked with the May Ball Committees, if not whether this could be
looked into
iv.
Expressed surprised that some of the work
undertaken during a ward blitz was not carried out on a regular basis.
v.
Queried what lessons had been learnt from the ward
blitzes and what could be done more of, particularly in Market ward.
vi.
There was still an issue with pink bags not being
collected and left out for days at a time.
vii.
Enquired if the City Council could clear the weeds
from the kerbs that grew up from the road.
viii.
Requested that the clearing of leaves in Newnham be
added to the ward blitz.
In response to the comments made the Operations Manager (Community
Engagement and Enforcement) made the following statements:
i.
Could not answer if the paths were specifically
cleaned after the cattle had left but would speak with the relevant Officers.
ii.
Acknowledged there had been a particular issue with
fly tipping, particularly at Adam and Eve Street. It was an error in the report
not to have included Adam and Eve Street in Market Ward.
iii.
Ward blitzes allowed areas of the City that had not
been previously focused on, such as the cleaning of the bike racks by the City
Rangers. Ward blitzes were then analysed to determine what lessons could be
learnt.
iv.
City Rangers would be intrusted to take down out of
date signage.
v.
Posters that
were advertising non-commercial organisations did not require planning
permission but permission from the landowner such as highways or churches.
vi.
Banners that were not authorised were taken
straight down.
vii.
Could not answer the question regarding the May
Balls but would speak with the relevant Officers and bring back further
information to a future meeting.
viii.
Aware of the problem with the pink bags and would
speak with the Operation Managers on this matter.
ix.
New regulations had come into force which enabled
the Council additional powers to serve a notice to those proprietors who were
causing harm to the environment.
x.
A sweeper would be sent out to clear the weeds and
soil from the paths. If access was blocked the paths would have to be cleaned
manually which took times. The probation team had also undertaken work.
i.
The clearing of the leaves in Newnham would be
included as part of the ward blitz in November.
Evan Laughlin from the County Council confirmed that the County Council
carried weed kill treatments three times a year undertaken by the City Council.
The Committee:
Resolved (Unanimously) to agree the following priorities, including the
additional priority (No 7).
1. Enforcement and City Ranger
patrols in the City Centre to address
issues of illegally deposited trade waste and littering.
Justification: Littering
and illegal deposited waste if left un- investigated
can cause ongoing issues and encourage antisocial
behaviour. This priority has been
included as a continuation to balance the high standard of trade waste management and litter patrols already
existing in the West/Central area
and to continue to build upon
this work further.
2. Early morning, daytime and
weekend dog warden patrols for dog fouling
on Grantchester Street, Lammas Land and surrounding areas.
Justification: Dog fouling continues to
be identified by the Dog Warden and a number of individuals spoken to have not
been aware of dog control orders; this recommendation remains in order to
balance education and enforcement. Further reports have been received that has
identified an increase of dog fouling on the routes to and from the local
school.
3. Proactive small scale graffiti and flyposting
removal by City Rangers across the West/Central area.
Justification: Work already conducted by
the City Rangers has been positive and enhanced the areas where cleared. This
recommendation is to continue this work as a priority for all the rangers
covering the West/Central areas.
4 Regular litter picks and
enforcement monitoring in New Square, Drummer
Street, Fitzroy Street and Burleigh Street
Justification: Foot traffic in these areas
continues to be high, particularly at the beginning of the new university term
and continued focus on these areas is recommended.
5. Ownership and cleansing of
Garrett Hostel Lane ditches
Justification: Work to identify the
ownership of Garrett Hostel Lane ditches is ongoing. Work on maintaining the
cleanliness of the ditches is ongoing and remains a focus for the Operations
team.
6 Jesus Green ditch cleansing
– looking at frequency of activity
Justification: Work has already been
undertaken in this area since July / August time, however in order to measure
the success of this activity it is necessary to examine the effectiveness of
weekly cleansing over a lengthy period of time and the period October to
December would allow that.
7 Joint working patrols to
address the issues of fly tipping at public
recycling points.
Justification: Fly
tipping at Lammas Land and Castle Park recycling
centre account for an increase in the fly tipping figures across the West area. Enforcement and ranger work to focus on these areas will balance
education and enforcement to
deter this problem.