Issue - meetings

Report ES13024

Members considered the draft Environment Portfolio Plan for 2013/16.

Report ES13024 also summarised the recommended priorities for the Plan, providing background on their significance as the key outcomes to be sought in 2013/16.

On expanding take up of the Green Garden Waste (GGW) collection service, the Chairman wanted to see a long-term target figure for the number of residents using the service. He also wanted a date in the plan for introducing a kerbside collection service for textiles. The aim of the GGW collection service was to reduce congestion around waste sites so a high take-up was preferred. The Chairman understood that other outer-London boroughs had high service take-ups so it should be achievable over the longer term. The Portfolio Holder indicated that this would increase incrementally.

Councillor Fookes highlighted an occurrence where notices had been left advising that vehicles were not to be parked in a street pending a thorough clean that was to take place. Vehicles were moved but the cleaning did not take place. He felt that improvements were necessary on informing residents of forthcoming events such as street cleans. The Chairman reminded Members and Officers of his suggestion at the Committee’s meeting on 15^th January 2013 for the Council’s website to indicate when a street was last cleaned (and when future cleaning work was scheduled). He also asked that a specific commitment be made to improve street cleanliness. Councillor Fookes also suggested that the Council’s intranet system, “One Bromley”, indicate in chart form the responsibilities of officers. He also indicated that it was necessary to improve street cleaning in the area he represented. Where waste was being left in an area and in order to assist the successful prosecution of offenders, he advocated the use of CCTV to capture an incident of waste being deposited. 

On extending the trial use of a private enforcement company to issue fixed penalty notices for littering and dog fouling, Councillor Adams understood that the company had yet to issue a fixed penalty notice for dog fouling. He felt that serious effort was needed in this regard. The Portfolio Holder indicated that the company could be requested to have a focus on securing dog fouling prosecutions. He advocated trialling such an enforcement focus, suggesting a trial in Bromley based on a cross-party approach.

Councillor Grainger had a number of comments. In the context of recycling and waste, he referred to waste carpets being heavy and adding to landfill tax. He suggested that recycling carpet waste be considered. He supported the responsibilities of officers being available on One Bromley, highlighting functions in the Department and not simply job titles. On enforcement against dog fouling, and noting that owners often walked their dog early morning or at dusk, he hoped that enforcement officers would be on patrol during those times. He also advocated the use of figures instead of, or in addition to, percentages. On highway maintenance, he advocated maintenance works to lengths of roads as necessary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59