Issue - decisions

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 East 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 East Area for the period September to November 2016:

 

Continuing Priorities:

 

1.      Enforcement patrols to tackle fly tipping at Riverside, Ditton Fields and St Matthews Street area.

 

2.      Early morning, daytime and weekend patrols for dog fouling at the following locations:

 

•        Ravensworth Gardens play areas

•        St Bedes Crescent

 

3.      Illegal camping barbeque and green space patrols at Stourbridge Common.

 

4.      Enforcement patrols to tackle environmental crime at Thorpe Way estate.

 

Amendment to continuing priorities: Add Mill Road Cemetery to item 2.

 

The Committee was informed that unused dog bins would be redistributed to Wards.  Local Members and the public were invite to submit suggestions to the Operations Manager – Community Engagement and Enforcement by the mid November.                                                                      Action: Local Members

 

The Committee considered a number of comments from the public as follows:

 

-        queried why the Council was introducing new public spaces protection orders (PSPOs) to tackle dog-related issues across the city.  It was noted that existing Dog Control Orders would automatically have become PSPOs in October 2017 due to changes in legislation.  However, the council was proposing to make this change early to allow for new areas requiring dog control to be considered and consulted on.  The consultation would start on 17 October and last for six weeks.  Details of the consultation would be made available to Vets, Dog Clubs etc. and circulated via social media.

 

The proposed locations for the new PSPO would vary from existing Dog Control Orders in several ways.  Dog exclusion areas would be introduced at fenced-in parks, the need for dogs to be kept on leads in some areas would be removed, while dogs on leads would be introduced in some areas where complaints have been received.  A map detailing new areas would be available on line.  The Chair and Vice-Chair emphasised the fact that it was not proposed to ban dogs from parks.  However, there might be a need to fence off a play area to prevent fouling or provide extra dog bins.

 

-        thanked Councillors who had come on a number of Ward Walks and for the actions which had followed.

 

-        expressed concern about fly tipping at the end of Tenison Road.  There was particular concern about the piling up of litter in the alleyway near the Mosque on Mawson Road.  Cllr Robertson hoped that Tenison Road would be open before Christmas which would enable the issue of litter bins to be addressed.  The Chair agreed to talk to Environmental Health Officers about the alley way which was believed to be privately owned.  It was also proposed to add a community pay back litter pick.                                                                                                 Action: Cllr Smith

 

The Committee discussed the following issues:

 

i.        the fact that there were still free dog chips available.

ii.       requested a further allocation of litter bins and dog waste bins to Abbey.  It was suggested that the allocation should reflect the views of local children raised at the meeting.

iii.      queried why St Bedes Crescent was included in the priorities as it was not in the East Area Committee patch.  It was noted that this priority reflected the links with “The Tins” and the boundary with Coleridge.  It was suggested that it should therefore be referred to as “The Snakey Path” area.

iv.      the need for a community clear out of pieces of furniture near the flats on Ekin Road.  A member of the public commented that such action had been taken by volunteers three months ago with the Council being informed.

v.       the need to clean litter and dog bins.

vi.      expressed thanks for keeping the Carter Bridge clean on the inside.  It was noted that the cost of cleaning the outside of the Bridge was approximately a quarter of a million pounds.  Cllr Roberts confirmed that the City Council cleaned the inside of the bridge four times a week.

vii.     asked whether the Council charged businesses for using the park in Coleridge for exercise boot camps on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  There was concern about large vehicles parking very close to the railings and blocking the pavement.  Cllr Roberts confirmed that there was a charge to people using city parks for commercial reasons.  The Chair agreed to look into the issue with Events and Open Spaces Team.

Action: Cllr Smith

viii.    the possibility of community pay back being used to clear channels. Members were informed that there was a need to make sure the cars were not obstructing the channels preventing this work taking place.

ix.      queried the action being taken to remove graffiti on the subway roundabout.  It was noted that a quarter of the project had been completed.  However, the Abbey Road side would not be completed until after Christmas as the old surface had to be taken off using hand tools which took time.  The County Council had provided paint and any offensive graffiti was being removed as quickly as possible.  There had been some positive comments about the National Tyre side and consideration was being given to some public art projects.

x.       the need for a Ward walk in the areas identified by the young people.  The Operations Manager agreed to engage with the Children and Young People’s Services Project Worker to see if the young people were available.                                                        Action: Operations Manager

 

Following discussion, Members resolved (unanimously) to approve the continuation of the four previous priorities for action above, with the addition of Mill Road Cemetery and the renaming of St Bedes Crescent to “Snakey Path” for priority 2.