Issue - meetings

The Committee received a report from the Enforcement Team Leader. The report provided an overview of the Council’s Streets and Open Spaces, Environmental Health and Shared Waste service activity in the West Central Committee area over the past six months. 

 

The report provided open data on service performance, so that City and County Councillors and their constituents are informed of what service activity is happening in their area; and had the opportunity to engage in and help to shape this activity, including identifying specific local service requests / issues.

 

The Enforcement Team Leader responded to questions as follows:

 

1.   Councillor Bick

Needle finds had increased across the area. Market Ward figures were almost double the previous half yearly figure. Why?

 

A single find, such as a large number of needles recovered from one property, would result is a spike in recorded finds.

 

2.   Councillor Chadwick

Where the report states that action had taken place, are there any details on what that action was and how satisfied the complainant was with the outcome?

 

The Environmental Health records were limited regarding the level of detail and how much it was appropriate to share in the report. The Officer undertook to investigate satisfaction levels if possible.

Action Point: Nick Kester

 

3.   Councillor Bick

Fitzroy Street suffers from high levels of litter by late afternoon and early evening. Was it possible for a second sweep of the area to be undertaken in the afternoon?

 

The area was cleaned mechanically in the early mornings. A second clean would need to be completed manually as the machinery could not access the area when street trader’s furniture was in place. The Officer undertook to look into this matter.

Action Point: Nick Kester

 

4.   Councillor Bick

More enforcement was needed to tackle A Boards.

 

A report regarding the policy on ‘A Boards’ when to Community Services Scrutiny Committee 18 months ago and it might be timely to review that policy. Action was taken and enforcement notices were served. The Enforcement team have the power to seize offending ‘A Boards’.

 

5.   Member of the Public

Would the Rangers assist someone whose cycle had been locked to another cycle, as an anchor point, without permission of the owner?

 

This was a service that the Rangers used provide subject to the Police checking the identity of the cycle owner. The Police are no longer able to do this so the service is no longer available.

 

6.   Councillor Harrison

Could a slightly more inclusive term the ‘street life’ be found for report referring to homeless people?

 

Noted.

 

7.   Councillor Harrison

What is the current position regarding unattended bedding and belonging left in the street?

 

The current position was to leave a three hour notice on the goods. After 3 hours the goods could be removed to storage. The Police would prefer immediate removal as such goods could present a security threat. A change to the three hour policy would require an Executive Councillor decision.

 

8.   Councillor Harrison

The public enjoyed the additional pavement space available when Stazioni Restaurant temporarily ceased trading. She urged members of this committee respond to the consultation on the pavement trading licence in order to permanently free up the space.