Issue - meetings

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        Enquired if planning notices could be taken down when they were out of date.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.