Issue - meetings

This report updates members on the progress of ‘alleygating’ and advises on the impact on refuse collections, street cleansing and enforcement activities

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

(i)                 Note the contents of the report and the progress made by Neighbourhood Pride and Waste Services to minimise litter and refuse problems in alley-gated areas.

(ii)               Ask Officers to review the Gating Order Policy agreed on 26 March 2007 and report the results back to Members.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:      For information, and to ensure that the issues raised by residents following the implementation of alley gating are addressed.

Members received a report which provided an update on progress with ‘alley-gating’ and advised of its impact upon refuse collections, street cleansing and enforcement activities.

Since approval of the Gating Order Policy, Procedure and Practice Document in March 2007, gates had been installed in 31 alleys in the City of York area and the Council had submitted a Notice of Intention to make a further 28 Gating Orders.  Details were attached as Annexes 2 and 3 to the report and the Policy document was attached as Annex 1  In some areas of the City, gating had achieved an 87% reduction in burglaries. 

Under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act, gated alleys retained their highway status and thus remained the responsibility of the Council in respect of cleansing and waste collection arrangements.  To date, there had been few reports of problems with these issues from residents of alley-gated areas, who had agreed to service changes when voting for the gates to be installed.  Each area had received a ‘deep clean’ prior to installation of the gates.  Further cleaning would be undertaken at residents’ request.  However, it was important to ensure that residents were clear on their new waste arrangements and did not continue to leave refuse in the back lanes for collection.  Monitoring of waste presentation was still ongoing in the Clifton area, where some residents were continuing to place waste sacks in the back lanes.  To date, 434 advice letters had been sent, but the Council had not yet used its powers of enforcement under Section 46 of the Environmental Protection Act.

Members commented favourably on the crime reduction brought about by alley gating, but noted that there had been a mixed reception in the wards to resulting changes to waste collection arrangements.  It was agreed that the Policy should be looked at again in the light of experience to date.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

(i)                 Note the contents of the report and the progress made by Neighbourhood Pride and Waste Services to minimise litter and refuse problems in alley-gated areas.

(ii)               Ask Officers to review the Gating Order Policy agreed on 26 March 2007 and report the results back to Members.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:      For information, and to ensure that the issues raised by residents following the implementation of alley gating are addressed.