Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

To confirm as a correct record the Notes of the meeting of the Housing and Environment Services Advisory Board held on 18 July 2016

RESOLVED:  That the notes of the meeting of the Street Scene and Environment Services Advisory Board held on 18 July 2016 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The joint report of the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services, the Director of Planning, Housing and Environmental Health and the Director of Finance and Transformation set out proposed fees and charges for the provision of services in respect of food certificates, contaminated land monitoring, private water supplies, pest control, stray dog redemption fees, household bulky refuse and fridge/freezer collections, “missed” refuse collections and the Council’s car parks from April 2017. 

In bringing forward the proposals for 2017/18, it was noted that consideration had been given to a range of factors including the Council’s overall financial position, trading patterns, the current rate of inflation, competing facilities and customer demand.  Particular reference was made to the comprehensive review of car parking charges undertaken at the beginning of 2016 and the conclusion that no further changes be made but the position be reviewed again in 12 months’ time.

RECOMMENDED:  That Cabinet approve the scale of charges for mandatory condemned food certificates, exported food certificates, contaminated land monitoring, sampling private water supplies, stray dog redemption fees, household bulky refuse and fridge/freezer collection, “missed” refuse collection and car parking charges with effect from 1 April 2017, as detailed in the report to the Advisory Board.

*Referred to Cabinet

The report of the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services provided an update on the review of the Council’s bulky refuse collection and WEEE recycling service undertaken in partnership with Veolia.  Consideration was given to a number of recommendations for the continued provision of the services at no additional cost to the Council.  A proposed new schedule was presented which would maintain an appropriate level of service in each of the areas currently served and provide sufficient funding for the WEEE service to be continued until the end of the refuse and street cleansing contract in February 2019.

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)             the revised schedule for the collection of bulky refuse and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) from locations across the Borough be approved;

(2)             the revised arrangements commence in February 2017 for a period of two years; and

(3)             the bulky refuse and WEEE service be reviewed further as part of the retender of the Council’s Refuse and Street Cleansing Contract.

*Referred to Cabinet

Decision Notice D160082MEM

The report of the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services gave details of the Unauthorised Deposit of Waste (Fixed Penalties) Regulations 2016 which allowed fly tipping offences to be dealt with by means of a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) and aimed to provide an efficient tool for tackling smaller scale and/or lower impact fly tipping incidents.

Details were given of the proposed penalty and the circumstances in which the FPN would be issued, together with a review of the current FPN process.

RECOMMENDED:  That with immediate effect:

(1)             delegated authority be granted to the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, as amended by the Unauthorised Deposit of Waste (Fixed Penalties) Regulations 2016, to make appropriate arrangements for the issue of Fixed Penalty Notices for fly tips;

(2)             the penalty charge of £400 for unauthorised deposits of waste be supported with no early payment reduction and no appeal process;

(3)             the removal of early payment reductions for Duty of Care offences often associated with fly tipping be supported; and

(4)             the cessation of the appeal process for all offences where Fixed Penalty Notices are served be supported.

The report gave an update on a number of projects and initiatives within Waste and Street Scene services.  Particular reference was made to the winning of the RSPCA Gold Award for Stray Dog Services for the fifth year running and it was agreed that a letter of appreciation be sent to the Dog Warden for her personal and professional commitment. 

The Council’s input to the Defra Project Group working on production of a National Litter Strategy was highlighted.  The report also indicated progress on options for the relocation of a number of recycling sites and plans for rescheduling refuse and recycling collection rounds in some parts of the Borough.

Further to Decision No D160051MEM, the report provided a detailed overview of the way in which the Council’s contaminated land function was delivered in line with both legislative requirements and statutory guidance.  Attention was drawn to the Council’s responsibilities under both the Contaminated Land Regime and the Planning Regime.  Details of the series of sequential planning conditions adopted for dealing with contaminated land were reproduced at Annex 2 to the report and the Scientific Officer dedicated to contaminated land issues (and shared with Gravesham Borough Council) was introduced to the Advisory Board.  It was noted that the Council’s approach had been verified as sound by counsel’s opinion.

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting during consideration of any items the publication of which would disclose exempt information.

There were no items considered in private.