Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Operations Manager seeking endorsement of the Council’s new Litter Strategy and Litter Minimisation Action Plan.

Executive Councillor: Mrs M L Beuttell.

The Cabinet has endorsed the Litter Strategy and Litter Minimisation Action Plan 2021-2025.

A report by the Operations Manager for Environmental Services was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) seeking endorsement of the Council’s new Litter Strategy and Litter Minimisation Action Plan.

The Executive Councillor for Operations and Environment reported upon the key themes within the Strategy which included the following:

§  Reduce litter

§  Being innovative

§  Reduce our environmental impact

§  Leading by example

§  Engagement; and

§  Enforcement

Following a brief discussion on enforcement, the Corporate Director (People) report that proposals would be presented at Informal Cabinet in Spring/Summer 2022 but in the meantime, the Council could make use of external resources available.

Having been apprised with the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Customers and Partnerships), it was

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet endorse the Litter Strategy and Litter Minimisation Action Plan 2021-2025.

The Panel is invited to comment on the Litter Minimisation Strategy.

By means of a report by the Operations Manager Environmental Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Litter Minimisation Strategy was presented to the Panel.

Following a question from Councillor Gardener, the Panel heard that there were plans to roll out bin sensors in bins beyond town centres and that it was hoped that grants would be available to fund this. The Panel also heard that the Council were working together with National Highways to find a solution to littering in laybys along major routes across the district.

Having heard concerns from Councillor Alban regarding the low number of prosecutions for fly tipping offences despite the hard work from the Enforcement Team, the Panel were assured that the team continues to work diligently to ensure fly-tippers are held to account. Members also heard that intelligence was shared with neighbouring authorities and that a revised enforcement policy would be developed next year.

Following a comment from Councillor Gardener regarding human waste being thrown from HGVs into residential land, the Panel were advised that such acts could be reported on the Council’s website.

Councillor Banks enquired if there were known littering hotspots across the district and the Panel heard that the team were aware of hotspots and continued to share intelligence to monitor this situation.

Councillor Wilson observed that education and changing behaviours would be key to successfully reducing waste across the district. The Panel heard that the team currently work with schools to help educate young people but that this needs to extend to adults and that several schemes are being developed to assist with the implementation of this. Members heard that plans to reduce litter bins were being developed with the onus on the public to take rubbish home with them and allow for more efficient recycling due to a reduction in contamination of recyclable waste.

Councillor Tysoe praised the hard work of Officers and the associated teams for all their efforts in minimising litter across the district.

It was thereupon

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet endorse the recommendations contained within the report.