Agenda item
Street Environment Update
Officers from Street Environment Services will speak to the meeting on the work they’ve been doing in the ward and plans for the future.
Minutes:
4.0 Suzanne Prance, Iain Dunn and Sam Watling gave an update on Street Environment work in the ward.
The team is continually enhancing the area. This year the emphasis was put on approaching businesses and asking them not to leave rubbish bags on the pavements. The team is educating residents at events and by way of information leaflets. Officers can issue a £75 fine for littering. The number of litter penalty notices issued so far this year is around 80.
4.1 September 19th marked the launch of a three year national campaign called Love Where You Live.
City of York Council Street Environment Service are inviting employers, organisations, voluntary groups and individuals across the city to help mark the launch and kick off what is hoped to be the biggest, longest environment campaign in York.
Love Where You Live is run by the Keep Britain Tidy group. Recognising that it takes time to change the way people think and act, the campaign will run for three years allowing time to encourage as many people as possible to join them – and City of York Council - along the way.
The Street Environment team of eight officers visited every ward in York to carry out litter picks and cleaning to help promote and share the event with local residents and find out why they love York.
4.2 Examples of Street Environment Team work were shown to the meeting with help of Power Point presentation.
4.3 If you wish to be a part of Love Where You Live campaign, please contact Iain Dunn or Suzanne Prance on 01904 55 1551. Email: iain.dunn@york.gov.uk or Suzanne.prance@york.gov.uk
The following questions were raised.
Q Have you considered installing paving slabs in the space where the hedge was on Stonebow?
A We are liaising with Edible York, which is interested in starting vegetable plot there.
Q Are you in charge of mechanical street sweepers? They tend to leave mud on the roads after sweeping.
A That will be taken up with our colleagues who are responsible for streets sweeping.
Q Guildhall should be recognised as the most important ward in York and emphasis should be put on litter picking and streets cleanliness.
A We do highlight the areas that require cleaning during our walkabouts and try to keep the area as clean as possible.
A Are you working together with Community Payback?
Q Yes, we do cooperate with them. If you have any suggestions for jobs that could be carried out by the Community Payback workforce please let us know.
A We used to have a gardener/handyman who was looking after the estate. Who is going to maintain the estate now?
Q We can approach Community Payback and ask them to carry out gardening work on the estate, but have to liaise with Gary Garland, Estate Manager on that.
A There is an issue with litter bins in the city centre overflowing with litter even in the morning. Can something be done about that?
Q Bins should be emptied on regular basis. We will start monitoring that. In addition to that the review of litter bins in the city centre is taking place and new types of bins that prevent overflowing are being considered.
A Are the fast food and restaurant businesses responsible for maintaining cleanliness outside their establishments?
Q As part of Love Where You Live campaign we will be approaching private businesses and talking to them about keeping the area clean.
A You should consider writing the establishment or resident’s name on the rubbish bins they are responsible for.
Q We will consider that.
At this point Sam Watling, Environment Enforcement Officer gave a description of his role. The Environment Enforcement Officer does not have a budget to spend, but has enforcement powers that enable them to issue notices, such as a rubbish removal notice. Sam is responsible for Clifton and Guildhall Wards and can be contacted on 01904 55 1551, or by e-mail: sam.watling@york.gov.uk