Issue - meetings

Future Enforcement Options

Meeting: 17/10/2017 - Communities, Housing and Environment Committee (Item 52)

52 Future Enforcement Options pdf icon PDF 162 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Regeneration and Place on the Future Enforcement Options – On-street Enforcement Team.

 

Members were informed that following the decision taken in August to not extend the litter enforcement contract with Kingdom Security Officers had considered various options as a way forward which included retendering, establishing an in-house on-street enforcement team, letting a contract for on-street enforcement or working in partnership with a neighbouring authority to deliver an on-street enforcement team.

It was noted that behaviours had changed in the town centre and it was evident that litter was being controlled successfully.  However other issues have become more evident and need to be addressed in order to achieve the Council’s priority of a Clean and Safe Environment.  Therefore if the proposal were to establish an on-street enforcement team, the following objectives would need to be included:-

 

·  Address anti-social behaviour

·  Proactive enforcement of PSPO(s)

·  Reduce fly tipping across the Borough and increase awareness of Duty of Care requirements

·  Increase awareness of Commercial Waste requirements for businesses

·  Reduce fly posting

·  Reduce dog fouling

 

Officers advised that the team would consist of 2 members of staff spending 70% of their time dealing with litter enforcement and 30% of their time with the other issues.

 

In response to questions from Members, Officers advised that:-

 

·  The operatives would not just be concentrating on the town centre, it would be borough wide.

·  That they would become the eyes and ears out on the street to feedback issues to the Police but not act as a replacement for the Police.

·  That the new team would be fully trained on all aspects of their duties.

·  That it would not be feasible for the Parking Enforcement team to carry out litter enforcement as part of their duties as they do not often confront people, they just issue the PCN fine by putting it on the vehicle.

·  The team would report to the Waste Crime Section based at the Depot and would not be performance based. 

·  The team would also have a uniform and wear body cameras.

·  There would still be a zero tolerance on litter.

·  A report would be brought back in six months to the Committee on the progress of this initiative.  It was hoped that the service would be operational by the new year (April at the latest).

 

RESOLVED:  That a new in-house On-street Enforcement Team be introduced for an 18 month period to carry out the enforcement of litter, other waste related crimes, anti-social behaviour and Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO).

 

Voting:  For:  Unanimous