Agenda item

Report ES15004

Report ES15004 outlined the performance of the Street Environment Contracts delivering day-to-day cleaning operations for the third year of the contract (January 2014 to February 2015). Services included street cleaning, graffiti removal, cleansing of public conveniences and cleansing of highway drainage assets.

The contract was let for an initial five year period (29/03/12 to 28/03/17), with the option to extend for a further two years subject to the Council being satisfied with the contractors’ performance. The contract was awarded as four lots to the following contractors:

-  Kier Environmental Services: street cleaning;

-  Community Clean: graffiti removal;

-  Kier Environmental Services: cleaning  public conveniences; and

-  Veolia Environmental Services: cleaning highway drainage assets.

The report reviewed factors affecting the standards of cleanliness achieved by contractors. It examined trends in performance and public feedback/satisfaction levels over the last three years and proposed improvements.

Standards and effectiveness of the street cleaning contract are measured in the following key performance areas:

·  regular inspections measuring street and environmental cleanliness in terms of litter, detritus, graffiti and fly-posting (formerly National Indicator 195);

·  monitoring contractor performance following routine scheduled street cleaning operations;

·  public satisfaction with street cleanliness; and

·  analysis of customer feedback/reports and trend information.

Representatives of Kier Environmental Services (Operations Manager and Business Manager) were in attendance to answer questions and outline further detail of the street cleaning operation in the borough.

Independent surveys were regularly undertaken with the latest taking place in Bromley Town Centre over the 2014 August Bank Holiday period. A postal survey was also undertaken with some 1,000 addresses in the borough (supplied by L B Bromley). Inspection findings measuring street and environmental cleanliness (formerly National Indicator 195) are based upon a survey of five wards per year, the wards for survey changing each year. As such the satisfaction outcome could expect to change. 

A Member commended street cleaners for their work, often only receiving feedback when there are concerns. On interaction with the work of other contractors such as Veolia in collecting household waste/recycling, the contract required Kier operatives to follow Veolia’s refuse and recycling collection rounds wherever possible. Kier had developed a working methodology where some 70% of roads subject to a waste and recycling collection are visited by cleaning operatives the next working day. There is also a degree of interaction with Veolia and other LBB contractors in areas such as co-ordinating the removal of fly-tipping.

There was concern that in rural areas of the borough litter seemed to remain in verges for some time. It was also hoped that trends from Fix my Street notifications would result in targeted cleansing in problem areas.

Street cleansing in country roads was undertaken every two weeks in winter and at four weekly intervals in the summer. Litter picking in shrub areas was carried out on the day of a cleaning sweep where safe to do so. It was also possible to close a road to undertake litter clearance where authority had been given. There had been a growth in litter activity related to certain areas in the previous 12 months and there had been an increase in the number of overflowing street waste bins. More work was necessary in considering whether contractor resources could be moved around. There had also been an increase in the level of dumped rubbish and fly tipping. A number of issues had also been raised during routine scheduled cleaning. Deep cleans and channel sweepings had been introduced since the beginning of the contract and officers had been discussing with the contractor how aspects of routine cleansing activity can be changed to accommodate the priorities placed upon the service.

Residents are encouraged to participate in Friends Groups and Kier supported community cleaning initiatives with assistance and items such as vehicles, equipment, and labour resources where events had been organised. Street Champions were also wanted in wards as part of a new initiative to recognise the efforts made by volunteers who go the extra-mile.

In response to a concern that equipment used in Penge High Street seemed ineffective, it was explained that a mechanical sweeper was used early morning with subsequent manual street cleaning work including bin emptying, black bag removal and sweeping. An operative would look in detail so that problem areas with cleaning around street furniture could be accessed where a mechanical sweeper was unable to reach. In responding to a suggestion that the timing of street operative work is re-considered as further litter seemed prevalent by midday, it was confirmed that a street cleaning presence was maintained in the high street from 6am to 10pm, seven days per week. Nevertheless, a number of black domestic waste bags often left at Penge High Street during the day were a constraint to carrying out a mechanical sweep of the location in the afternoon. 

Littering was a national issue which was growing in the borough. Officers were looking to develop a ‘street care plan’ which deals with the approach to maintaining cleanliness and it was necessary to explore some inventive ways to take this forward. Officers provided Street Friends with frequency of cleans via a newsletter and the Council’s website but ideas were welcome.

Concerning litter from fast food outlets, McDonalds designated their own staff for litter clearance at drive through restaurants and at larger restaurants. Kier personnel tended to focus on litter hot spots. Work had also been undertaken with schools but there was no official forum enabling officers to attend schools to promote anti-litter messages. It would be necessary for a school to invite officers to speak (e.g. during citizenship lessons) if a school saw that as a priority. If there were particular litter problems in the vicinity of a school, concerns would be raised by officers with the school.

Concerning fly-tipping and black waste bags on pavements, (a number emanating from residents living above shops), officers undertook cold calling on premises known to deposit domestic waste on pavements when waste was not due for collection. The premises could sometimes be identified as a result of opening the bags and it was often a case of providing education to the occupant(s) of the premises. Council Cleansing and Waste officers looked to identify problem hot spots where waste bags and fly tipping are often deposited. As part of Kier’s street cleaning contract they had a duty to collect waste deposited on the highway and around 180 bags could be collected per day in certain main roads in the Penge and Anerley area. The collected waste amounted to about one van load, equivalent to about ¾ to one ton of waste each day. Ward Security  could also issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) when individuals were seen dropping litter.

Kier advised that some 80% of a road is normally accessible during a weekend deep cleaning operation in streets where Monday to Friday commuter parking hinders operations. In regard to monitoring, Kier supervisors check about 35 to 40% of work carried out during the day. Where cleaning standards are not satisfactory, Kier crews are sent back to a location to achieve the required level of cleanliness. There was a financial penalty to the contractor should the required contract standards not be achieved. Officers monitored the standard of cleanliness set down in the Code of Practice associated with the Environmental Protection Act 1980. Kier also monitored to that standard. Should there be shortcomings, officers would issue a default notice and financial penalty to Kier. Officers held monthly progress meetings with Kier.

Concerning autumn leaf clearance, much work was undertaken beforehand including the utilisation of aerial survey data indicating the highest volume of tree canopy coverage in order to prioritise the programme of leaf fall removal. This year, leaf collection work was anticipated to start in September ahead of previous years when the programme commenced in October. Some 600 tonnes of uncontaminated leaf fall could be expected for removal. Some lessons on leaf fall drops had been learnt from last autumn.

The Chairman supported innovations on channel cleaning and reporting back. Leaf clearance improvement measures were also supported. However, the Chairman felt there was more to consider in responding to notifications on Fix My Street. There was a perception that cleaning standards had deteriorated and the Chairman suggested the provision of smarter online advice indicating the next scheduled clean for locations/roads. 

RESOLVED that:

(1)  the positive results of an independent resident satisfaction survey of street cleansing standards be noted along with the main concerns of survey respondents;

(2)  the increasing numbers of enquiries from the public regarding street care operations since the last report to Committee (ES14005 – Jan 2014) be noted; and

(3)  a robust policy be recommended to enforce, educate and deter littering and fly-tipping activity.