Issue - meetings

This report updates Members on street cleaning within the City Walls following the City wide review of the street cleansing service.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

(ii)               Note the content of the report and the progress being made on the various trials.

(iii)             Request further reports as the trials are concluded.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel, as set out above, be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:            To provide an improved Street Cleaning service in the City.

Members considered a report which provided an update on street cleaning within the City Walls, following the City-wide review of the street cleansing service.

Due to the unique character of the central area, Members had agreed that it be reviewed separately from the rest of the service.  A series of trials had now been carried out in order to identify the changes needed to match the improved standards achieved elsewhere in the City.  Trialling of the use of a small mechanical sweeper had been completed, with favourable results.  Further trials relating to the times of use would continue over autumn and winter, the results to be reported to Members on completion. 

Other planned or ongoing trials included; changes to the early morning street washing process, introduction of a barrow with vacuum attachment to collect small items of litter and a review of cleansing of the market area.  In addition, a barrowman had been introduced to key city centre residential areas and trials of a new bin system, incorporating recycling facilities and top mounted ashtrays, would take place subject to planning approval.  Slight changes to the zone covered by the City Centre SEO had improved the monitoring of public toilets and graffiti.

At the meeting, Officers circulated a schedule of street cleaning works being carried out in the city centre and noted that a prototype of the new recycling bin had been placed in St Helen’s Square that morning.  Members discussed the possibility of extending the bin system across the City; the Executive Member noted that this would risk drawing funds from existing recycling schemes and the bins’ cost-effectiveness must first be established.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

(ii)               Note the content of the report and the progress being made on the various trials.

(iii)             Request further reports as the trials are concluded.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel, as set out above, be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:            To provide an improved Street Cleaning service in the City.