Cllr Bevan, Cabinet Member for the Environment to answer questions on this portfolio.
Minutes:
The Cabinet Member for the Environment attended to answer questions from the panel relating to this portfolio. To begin, the Cabinet member outlined some key service areas which have been visited since being in post (September 2013). It was noted that the Cabinet member had:
· Met with street sweeping staff to assess how operations could be improved. The Cabinet member was impressed with the front line officers and the work that they were undertaking across the borough.
· Met with refuse collections teams and been out on refuse collection rounds to better understand some of the challenges that front line staff face;
· Met with all parks staff across the borough, visited Green Flag accredited parks and those that intended to apply for Green Flag status in the near future.
Waste Contract Performance
The panel noted that the performance for key waste and recycling indicators was improving. In respect of the recycling rate, it was noted that the council reached last year’s target and was on course to reach this year’s target (35.4%). It was also noted that street cleanliness assessments had also improved through 2013/14.
There were two issues however, which were proving more difficult to resolve, these were fly tipping and fly posting. The service was working with Veolia to help improve performance in these areas and had reinforced this as a priority with street cleansing staff.
Waste Contract Monitoring
4The panel sought further clarification as to how the contract with Veolia was monitored now that the Waste Contract Monitoring Group was no longer in operation. It was noted that monitoring of the waste contract took place at numerous levels:
· Weekly on an operational basis with officers;
· Every three months for high level strategic assessments with lead member.
It was noted that with the demise of the Waste Contract Monitoring Group, there were no opportunities for local ward councillors to raise waste issues directly with the contractor and officers. As a result, the process of getting resolutions to local waste collection problems had become slower and more time consuming.
To support its scrutiny of waste and recycling services, it was suggested that it would be beneficial if the EHSP could receive regular quarterly reports of key issues within local waste contract monitoring (e.g. recycling performance, food waste from flats, enforcement, fly tipping).
Agreed: That a quarterly report of Waste Monitoring Data is provided to the EHSP, with the Chair to agree with Cabinet member the nature of such data to be provided. This is to be requested at the first OSC Cabinet meeting of the new administration.
Hard of hearing access to Veolia call centre
The panel noted that an elderly resident had tried to call the Veolia call centre but there was no provision for hard of hearing. The Cabinet member indicated that this would be followed up at a future monitoring meeting with Veolia.
Action: Single Front Line to follow up provision for hard of hearing at Veolia call centre.
Purple Bags
Members of the panel raised ongoing problems with kerbside collections of purple bags. Initial investigations would suggest that there are insufficient wire back collection vehicles to provide cover if any of the fleet break down. As a result, when break downs did occur, rubbish remained uncollected (which then raised further issues concerning foxes and other vermin).
Action: Single Front Line would raise this issue with Veolia at the next monitoring meeting.
Waste vehicles
The panel noted that waste collection vehicles had occasionally been noted to be travelling in the wrong direction up one way streets. Whilst it was noted that the size vehicle and narrow roads may limit manoeuvrability, it was suggested that this issue should be raised with Veolia as it did not set a good example.
Action: Single Front Line would raise vehicle transgressions with Veolia at the next monitoring meeting.
Rationalisation of bins
The panel noted that the number of bins on streets remained problematic in some areas and sought further clarification on what was being done to support rationalisation of bins. In its previous investigation of waste and recycling services, the panel made a recommendation that further support (e.g. a how to guide) should be developed and distributed to local residents to support those wishing to reduce the number of bins outside properties. It was noted that with the high rate at which households moved in and out of the borough, such information may need to be re-distributed to maintain local awareness.
Action: Single Front line to clarify the availability of the bin rationalisation leaflet and its availability and future distribution.
Bins without lids
The panel noted that there were ongoing issues with waste bins without lids. It was noted that whilst resident can be report this to Veolia, waste collection teams should be reporting this to Veolia as and when lidless bins are identified The panel noted that this would be raised with Veolia.
Action: Reporting procedure for waste bins without lids to be confirmed with Veolia.
Fly tipping
The panel noted that fly-tipping was an ongoing problem in some areas of the borough. It was suggested that more should be done to publicise successful prosecutions of those caught fly tipping to act as deterrent to other potential offenders.
It was confirmed to the panel that the Neighbourhood Action Team could follow up enquiries relating to suspected illegal disposal of trade waste. The NAT team can investigate vehicles suspected of illegal dumping as it can be verified if the operator has a trade waste license.
It was confirmed that the service had recently met to identify improvements to how the service responded to fly tipping incidents, particularly in relation to how information is collected, analysed and acted upon. It was noted that further work was being undertaken to help improve local intelligence gathered from street sweepers to help identify illegal dumping and promote its speedier removal..
Agreed: An update is to provided to the panel on fly tipping, trade waste licenses and enforcement (possibly included in quarterly report).
The panel noted that with the new waste and recycling collection system, large household items could be collected for free via Veolia. It was suggested that this information may need to be re-communicated to local residents as part of an ongoing education and awareness programme.
Street Sweeping
The panel noted that header roads on the ladder did not appear to be being swept regularly, which was leaving the public realm looking very untidy. It was noted that NAT would enquire as to the frequency of sweeping in this area.
Action: NAT to assess frequency of street sweeping on header roads on the Harringay Ladder.
Disposable nappies
The panel sought clarification as to what support was available for families with young children wishing to dispose of nappies. It was confirmed to the panel that non reusable nappies are retained within residual waste and sent to landfill/ incineration. The panel noted that dedicated advice was available on the Haringey website about nappy disposal, including schemes to encourage use of real or reusable nappies.
Dog excrement
The panel noted that there were ongoing issues with dog excrement, in that this was not being removed within regular road sweeping rounds. It was reported to the panel that road sweepers should have appropriate tools to enable them to dispose of this safely.
Action: Follow up with Veolia to ensure that road sweepers systematically dispose of dog excrement where this is located.
Street Banners
The panel sought clarification on the use of street banners on road railings. It was noted that there had been no change to the local policy of not allowing any banners on road banners on the grounds of public safety as these may restrict the vision of motorists, pedestrians and other road users.
Finsbury Park Steering Group
The panel noted that in response to the recent call-in of the Councils Event Policy, a Finsbury Park Steering Group had been established and a first meeting held. It was noted that whilst there was member representation in this group, not all local members had been invited to keep the group to a manageable size. The group were already discussing plans for the first major event being held in May 2014.
Road resurfacing
It was noted that there were a number of roads that were in state of disrepair and which needed resurfacing work (e.g. Wolves Lane, White Hart Lane). As a response the panel noted that:
· Increased spending was detailed within the new programme of road surfacing which had recently been agreed;
· It was confirmed to the panel that part of White Hart lane would be resurfaced in the next programme of road resurfacing works (2014/15) and that local councillors would be engaged ahead of this process.
Encroachment on local parks
It was noted that the Cabinet member had met local parks representatives and discussed local issues. An issue emerging from some local parks was encroachment (and poor maintenance) of properties adjacent to the park. It was suggested that the legal position of the Council should be ascertained in being able reclaim any land taken or to require remedial work on adjacent properties.
Action: Scrutiny to ascertain the legal position of the Council in respect of park encroachment.
The panel thanked the Cabinet Member for attending and responding to questions within the environment portfolio.