Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery) on the options to provide additional cleansing services in the District’s town centres on Sundays.

Recorded their concern that the paper did not address operational issues associated with the scope of the areas to be cleaned and the delivery of the service.  Commented that an additional cleansing service on a Sunday was likely to cause some early morning noise which could be seen as being detrimental to some residents. Requested the Overview and Scrutiny Panel  to investigate further the introduction of Sunday cleansing services in light of the Cabinet’s views and to prepare a proposal for consideration as part of the Council’s Medium Term Plan in due course; Agreed that financial contributions towards the cost of implementing additional cleansing be sought from the various Town Councils and that the use of Alcohol Disorder Zones be investigated.

A report by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Delivery) was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) which summarised the findings of a study by a Panel Working Group regarding the introduction of additional cleansing services in the District’s town centres on Sundays to deal with the effects of the Saturday night time economy in terms of litter.

In discussing those areas identified as requiring additional cleansing on a Sunday, Members recorded their concern that the paper did not address operational issues associated with the scope of the areas to be cleaned and the delivery of the service.  Particular mention was made to the extensiveness of the areas identified and the need to target specific streets.  The Cabinet commented that an additional cleansing service on a Sunday was likely to cause some early morning noise which could be seen as being detrimental to some residents.

With regard to the overall cost of introducing an additional cleansing service, it was suggested that investigations should be undertaken into the possibility of external funding given the financial constraint already placed upon the Council.

Having been advised of the option of identifying establishments deemed to be responsible for the problems and charging them for making good the area effected via the use of Alcohol Disorder Zones and in acknowledging the impact of litter on Sunday trade and tourism, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  (a)  that the Overview and Scrutiny Panel be requested to investigate further the introduction of Sunday cleansing services in light of the Cabinet’s views above and to prepare a proposal for consideration as part of the Council’s Medium Term Plan in due course;

  (b)  that financial contributions towards the cost of implementing additional cleansing be sought from the various Town Councils; and

  (c)  that the use of Alcohol Disorder Zones be investigated.

To consider a report by the Head of Operations on the financial implications of providing a full street cleansing service to the main town centres on Sundays.

30 Minutes.

Pursuant to Minute No. 07/59, the Panel considered a report by Mr R Ward, Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended to the Minute Book), which contained details of a proposal to provide enhanced Sunday cleansing services in all the market towns in the District. Mr Ward reminded Members of the background to the study and drew the Panel’s attention to the resource implications and operating costs associated with the proposal. In so doing, the Panel were advised that there was no provision in the Council’s financial plan for enhanced cleansing services.

The Chairman drew Members’ attention to a representation made by Holywell-cum-Needingworth Parish Council, drawing attention to the fact that the District Council already dedicated resources to cleansing in town centres while cleansing in villages was predominantly funded by Parish Councils and requesting a partnership approach to village cleansing services. Nevertheless, the Panel reiterated their concerns at the deterioration in cleanliness of the District’s town centres on Sundays as a result of increases in Sunday trade and tourism at both a local and national level.

Councillor J M Sadler suggested that the Council might investigate the establishment of Alcohol Disorder Zones, which were a government measure designed to provide a means of redress in areas experiencing problems associated with alcohol consumption. The Panel concurred with this suggestion as a long term measure to address the problems associated with litter in towns.

Following discussion the Panel concluded that the annual cost of £52,400 represented good value for money, particularly, in light of the anticipated benefits that would be achieved. The Panel, however, expressed the view that as savings were required for the Council to meet the costs of the proposal, financial contributions should be sought from the District’s Town Councils. Members commented that Sunday cleansing would be more feasible if this approach was adopted and that there would be a greater likelihood that a service might be introduced if such contributions were forthcoming. In recognising the financial constraints already placed upon the Council, the Panel therefore

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be recommended to

(a)  introduce cleansing services on Sundays in all the market towns across the District as set out in the report now submitted;

(b)  seek financial contributions from Town Councils towards the cost of implementing the proposal;

(c)  subject to the outcome of (b) above, include a bid for funding for the proposal in the Medium Term Plan; and

(d)  investigate the introduction of Alcohol Disorder Zones in the District in the long term.