Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report from the Enforcement Team Manager.

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 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. It also included key officer contacts for the reporting of waste and refuse and public realm issues.

The following were suggestions for Members on what action could be considered for priority within the South Area for the upcoming period:

The Committee discussed the following issues:

       i.          Injunction papers affecting Hanover Court Garages.

Action Point: Enforcement Team Manager to liaise with Councillor O’Connell about distribution of injunction papers affecting Hanover Court Garages.

     ii.          Clean up litter in alley ways around Long Road Sixth Form College, Mowbray Road and Hulatt Road.

   iii.          Clean up litter in hospital access road.

   iv.          Damage to grass and trees on Fisher’s Lane caused by cars parking on the grass.

Action Point: Enforcement Team Manager and Tree Officers to visit green on Fisher’s Lane to inspect damage to grass and trees caused by cars parking on the grass.

    v.          Putting needle exchange information in Boots (Cherry Hinton branch).

   vi.          The need for secure locations for sharp bins. The Police, Anti-Social Behaviour Team and Enforcement Officers were putting injunctions in place to move people on if they used drugs.

 vii.          Drug user support services were not open 24 hours so were not always in place to help drug users.

viii.          Sufficient numbers of stewards needed to be in place for the Cherry Hinton Lakes Open Day.

Action Point: Enforcement Team Manager to liaise with Operations Co-ordinator (Community Engagement and Enforcement) to ensure there are enough stewards at the Cherry Hinton Lakes open day in June.

   ix.          Abandoned bikes.

    x.          Abandoned shopping trolleys.

   xi.          Community clean up days (P38 agenda pack) were noted.

Mr Zammer asked when dog waste bins would be installed in an area. The Enforcement Team Manager said this would occur once a development was adopted by the local authority. It would then be assigned a dog warden patrol.

Action Point: Enforcement Team Manager to liaise with member of public about installation of dog waste bins.

In response to Members’ questions the Enforcement Team Manager said the following:

       i.          The Rapid Response Team would respond to reports of discarded needles within 2 hours. Many users simply discarded needles once used although given safe discard pouches at needle exchanges.

     ii.          Sharps bins were available in public toilets. They had to be tamper proof and located in places that met certain criteria. Locations were contentious as residents did not want bins located near them.

   iii.          The council could not clear up litter on private property eg alley near Long Road Sixth Form College. Officers could ask permission to access the property for a one-off visit.

   iv.          Ofo had been contacted to collect abandoned bikes. They had been slow to respond but now undertook to collect within 24 hours of reporting. The council would impound bikes if they were not quickly removed. It became a police matter if bikes obstructed the highway. The council would remove bikes that were parked in a dangerous position or attached to street furniture. Details could be reported to City Rangers.

    v.          Ofo bikes were treated as business property that could be left for the next user who would enter a code to use them. They could not be treated like abandoned shopping trolleys. It took a lot of officer resource to monitor and take enforcement action.

   vi.          Traffic order penalty charges were issued against the registered owner of a vehicle (not necessarily the person driving at the time of an offence).

Following discussion, Members unanimously resolved to approve priorities for action as listed above.