Issue - meetings

This report advises the Executive Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods of the receipt of a petition from pupils, staff and parents of Carr Junior School together with a petition from pupils and staff of Carr Infant School. It sets out recommended actions in response to the petition.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member:-

(i)            agrees to adopt Option 1, in paragraph 11, and approve the actions proposed.

(ii)            recommends that the Ward Committee fund the additional dog bin and it be serviced by the Council for the standard 3 year period, after which the situation be reviewed to determine if it is still required.

REASON:

To address the issue raised by the petition through the implementation of a comprehensive and partnership approach to tackle the problem of irresponsible dog owners failing to clear up after their dogs in the area.

The Executive Member for Neighbourhoods considered a report which advised her of the receipt of a petition from pupils, staff and parents of Carr Junior School together with a petition from pupils and staff of Carr Infant School. It set out recommended actions in response to the petition.

Officers outlined the report and advised that bins are installed in any particular area only if there is an overwhelming need i.e. in a ‘hotspot’ area. Officers felt that the Carr Junior School area  could be targeted by other means such as involving the Dog Warden Service and Street Environment Service.  Officers advised such methods would be preferential to them as a city wide audit of dog bins is currently being carried out.

Councillor Simpson Laing submitted a written statement in which she highlighted the following points:

• She had advised Officers in April that it was not advisable to remove the dog bin from the nearby Viking Rd/Tostig Avenue path.
• To combat vandalism the bins require a metal lid.
• Carr School wants a bin in addition to the Viking Road/Tostig bin and the Ward Committee will pay for it.

The Executive Member commented that better communication is required between Environment Officers and Ward Committees so that Ward Committees are aware as to when they are allowed more bins. In this instance the Executive Member felt that the Ward Committee should be allowed to fund their own bin, which the Council would service, with the intention of the situation being reviewed after the standard 3 year service period. The Executive Member also approved Option 1 as recommended by Officers, to tackle the problem by other means.

RESOLVED:            

That the Executive Member:-

(i)            agrees to adopt Option 1, in paragraph 11, and approved the actions proposed.

(ii)            recommends that the Ward Committee fund the additional dog bin and it be serviced by the Council for the standard 3 year period, after which the situation be reviewed to determine if it is still required.

REASON:

To address the issue raised by the petition through the implementation of a comprehensive and partnership approach to tackle the problem of irresponsible dog owners failing to clear up after their dogs in the area.