Agenda item

To receive a presentation from the Environmental Health Manager, Pollution/Environmental Control on the revised and updated Environment Improvement Strategy.  A copy of the revised strategy is attached. 

 

The Panel received the revised and updated Environment Improvement Strategy, together with a presentation from Ms. Helen Lolley, Environmental Health Manager Pollution/Environmental Control.  Ms. Lolley explained that the Environment Improvement Strategy had been introduced in 2008 in response to new powers to deal with environmental problems.  The Panel was reminded that, in response to a notice of motion to Council, they had made seven recommendations to Cabinet in November, 2013.  Six of these had been addressed and implemented and the seventh recommendation - to update the existing three core strands of the strategy (education, cleansing and enforcement) was still outstanding.

 

The Panel was updated on the progress with the six recommendations:

 

(1)       To make spitting an offence using Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN’s).  The Panel was informed that no FPN’s had been served to date as it had been difficult to catch people committing such offences.

 

(2)       Financial rewards for reporting fly tipping – one case was to be heard in Court on 2nd July, 2015.

 

(3)       Officers to be encouraged to serve FPN’s – figures had shown that this had been happening to a greater degree than before.

(4)       Numbers of residents using the discounted bulky waste service to be recorded – figures had shown that 30% had been using the service.

 

(5)       Free bulky waste collections on certain days in the year – it was reported that an increase in incidents of fly tipping had been recorded.

 

(6)       Restaurants to record vehicle registration numbers on packaging – this was being used in McDonalds.  Following legal advice McDonalds had now stopped this practice so this had not been taken up by Rushmoor.

 

With regard to the seventh recommendation, Members had requested added emphasis to education, communication and engagement initiatives, maintaining and improving the environment and enforcement and publicity of offenders.

 

The Strategy had been updated to reflect the Panel’s recommendations and changes to legislation.  The revised Strategy had also been rebranded to help people identify more with where they lived.  The need to build on current partnerships had also been recognised and a communications plan was being developed alongside the Strategy.  Pre-campaign work included the development of branding, involvement with local businesses, the police and other stakeholders, as well as school and community initiatives.

 

The Panel was updated on current issues and these included fly-tipping, particularly in Cherrywood, on both public and private land.  It was reported that the problem had initially been reduced but incidents were now recurring so enforcement and prevention activity was being resumed in that area.  Littering, dog fouling and abandoned vehicles were also issues.  Ms. Lolley assured the Panel that new legislative powers would enable the Council to deal with issues using an alternative approach.  New legislation included Public Space Protection Orders and Community Protection Notices  which had already been considered in a number of areas within the Borough. 

 

With regard to enforcement and publicity of offenders, it was reported that 70 Fixed Penalty Notices had been served during 2014/15 for littering and dog fouling.  To date 48 had been paid at the lower rate of £50 and four successful prosecutions had taken place for failing to pay.  The revenue from the fines had been used to fund further environmental improvements, for example the purchase of a device to remove chewing gum.  The Panel was also advised that Rushmoor had been publicising prosecutions of offenders.

 

In the future it was envisaged that further improvements would be made through:

 

(1)       Channel Shift which would enable improved reporting and feedback and ‘Confirm Connect’ - which would allow for mobile working and the mapping of hotspots. 

 

(2)       A caged vehicle had been ordered which would allow small fly tips to be collected immediately.   This was a new vehicle which replaced one of the existing vans which had come to the end of its lease.

 

(3)       Improvements would be sought through the new contract for waste/grounds cleansing: 

 

-           to direct resources where they were needed, not where scheduled;

 

-           to add provisional items within the contract for street washing and gum removal in the town centre areas; and 

 

-           the Social Value Act; the Council would be exploring how the contractor could add value socially, environmentally and economically, with school talks, organising and supporting community litter picks and working with local companies to co-ordinate volunteer days for bulb planting for example.

 

The Panel NOTED the presentation and AGREED that:

 

Action to be taken	By whom	When
·         The Environmental Health Manager would report back on the following issues:   -  the possibility of initiating a ‘Clean Street Award’ which could be presented to residents by the Mayor, in conjunction with the Farnborough Civic Society; and   -  the possibility of extending bulky waste collection discounts for benefit claimants.	Ms. Helen Lolley/ Contracts Manager	August, 2015