Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report from the Enforcement Team Manager.

The report outlined an overview of the council’s Streets and Open Spaces, Environmental Health and Shared Waste service activity in the Area Committee area over the past six months.

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

       i.          The council prosecuted people for fly tipping, as well as issuing fixed penalty notices. On average there were fifty prosecutions for fly tipping and non-payment of associated fines.

Action Point: Enforcement Team Manager undertook to send detailed figures showing the number of prosecutions for fly tipping (as opposed to fixed penalty notices).

     ii.          Recycling centre bins were managed by the Waste and Fleet Team.

Action Point: Enforcement Team Manager undertook to confirm how often recycling centre bins are emptied by the Waste and Fleet Team.

   iii.          An anti-fly tipping campaign was being undertaken in hotspots including communal recycling points. Officers collected evidence, then marked rubbish with stickers. It was the responsibility of the Streets and Open Spaces Team to remove rubbish, this could take five to seven working days.

Action Point: Councillor Collis to follow up issue of fly tipping in communal recycling points in King's Hedges eg Sackville Close and Arundel Close. Also clean up times as rubbish can be left for some time with stickers on saying officers aware.

   iv.          The law clearly states actions the City Council could take in regard to vehicles that have been reported to be abandoned. The City Council could not touch (licensed and insured) vehicles that owners claimed to be aware of (if parked legally on the highway). Unlicensed vehicles were reported to the DVLA. Unregistered vehicles could be removed and crushed.

    v.          The City Council received circa five hundred abandoned vehicle reports. Some of these were vexatious/malicious but had to be investigated when logged on the system.

   vi.          Residents and Councillors were asked to report abandoned vehicles online for the council to log and investigate.

 vii.          Witness statements from officers or members of the public are required to take action against fly tippers. If not, the council was only able to clear up rubbish.

Action Point: Enforcement Team Manager undertook to liaise with Enforcement Officers regarding fly tipping by contractors on Gilbert Road.

viii.          ‘Resident parking’ signs could obstruct grass cutting as they were not always positioned in the best locations.

Action Point: Enforcement Team Manager undertook to liaise with grass cutting operative to ascertain if any residents’ parking signs obstruct the cutting of grass verges. Issues to be feedback to County Council who were responsible for sign locations.