Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report from the Operations Manager – Community Engagement and Enforcement. It outlined an overview of City Council Refuse and Environment and Streets and Open Spaces service activity relating to the geographical area served by the South 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 to be targeted in the upcoming period. It also included key officer contacts for the reporting of waste and refuse and public realm issues.

Members noted that it was intended to align the priority setting period with area Committee dates in future.  The following were suggestions for Members on what action could be considered for priority within the South Area for the period December 2016 to February 2017:

The Committee discussed the following issues:

i.     Coldham’s Lane: a local resident had voluntarily undertaken some cleaning in Coldham’s Lane, but was now back at work and unable to continue this.

The Operations Manager undertook to request a deep cleanse in Coldham’s Lane, and to ensure that the work the volunteer had been undertaking would continue to be done.

Action: Wendy Young

ii.    Anstey Way: particularly the area round the shops could benefit from targeted work; there were 20 – 30 black bins straying onto the pavement, and an increase in levels of flytipping.

The Operations Manager suggested that Anstey Way be added to priority 6 for action.  The leaving of bins on pavements had recently been decriminalised, but she would ask the Waste Team to work with those leaving bins out in order to improve matters.

Action: Wendy Young

iii.   Hanover and Princess Court: could the parts of Hanover and Princess Court that were not the responsibility of housing be added to the list of areas to be kept under review.

iv.  Wulfstan Way, near the shops: there was a path parallel to the road just before the GP surgery that needed to be trimmed back as the overgrowing vegetation was a trip hazard for elderly and disabled residents.  Also, people were slipping on leafmould caught in the gutters near the sheltered housing.

The Operations Manager undertook to take these points back to the Operations Team.

Action: Wendy Young

v.   Litter picks: would it be possible for local members to be informed of routine litter picks, so that they could know when the streets were due to be swept.

The Operations Manager undertook to consult the Senior Operations Manager about Councillor Taylor’s request, and report back to the Committee on the data available.  Councillor Taylor asked to receive the reply sooner than the next SAC in April.

Action: Wendy Young

vi.  The Orchard, Byron Square, and the Foster Road path were all suffering from increased numbers of people using them and dropping litter, which volunteers were clearing up every day.

The Operations Manager said that the City Ranger Ed Nugent did a lot of work in the Orchard.  He reported to the Operations Manager, so local groups should report any feedback to him, and he would pass it on.

vii. Colville Road recycling area: the number of recycling bins had been reduced, increasing the amount of space available where people could just dump other rubbish. It would help prevent this if the area of open space near the recycling bins could be reduced.

The Chairman congratulated the Operations Manager and her team on the good work that they were doing for Cambridge.  He reported that, in response to a survey, more dog bins had been requested in the Gunhild play area, and near the GP surgery in Wulfstan Way.

In considering the SAC’s priorities for targeted action, it was suggested that Anstey Way, Coldhams Lane, Fendon Close, Fendon Road, Hannover Court, Princes Court and Wulfstan Way be added to the list in Priority 6 for enforcement patrols to deal with litter, abandoned vehicles, and flytipping.

It was resolved unanimously to adopt the following priorities: