Agenda item

Environmental Enforcement in Flintshire

Decision:

(a)       That the report be noted; and

(b)       That option 3, to extend the in-house provision, through recruitment or regional   working to provide the same level of enforcement coverage as the existing       contractor without maintaining a zero tolerance approach be recommended to    the Cabinet for consideration.   

 

Minutes:

Councillor Carolyn Thomas introduced a report to provide details of the Environmental Enforcement activities undertaken by the Council’s Enforcement Team and Kingdom Securities Limited on behalf of the Council.  She invited the Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) to present the report.

 

The Chief Officer advised that the report outlined the approach to all environmental enforcement issues including littering, fly-tipping, and side waste enforcement, and the impact this work was having on street cleanliness and other performance indicators.  He referred to the Environmental Enforcement Policy which was adopted by the Council in 2013 and stated its approach to all aspects of

environmental enforcement.  The Chief Officer reported on the main considerations, as detailed in the report concerning littering offences, dog-fouling, side waste, fly-tipping, fly-tipping on private land, and abandoned cars. 

 

The Chief Officer introduced Mark Mountford, Regional Business Manager, and Eoin Henney, Business Manager, Kingdom Securities Limited, and invited them to give a presentation on the environmental enforcement activities undertaken on behalf of the Council.  The presentation covered the following main points:

 

·         patrol strategy

·         total Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN’s) issued

·         offences 2016-17 and 2017-18

·         make/female ratio and age banding 2016-18

·         Ethnicity percentages 2016-18

·         Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) locations

·         behaviour change

 

The Chief Officer advised that the current arrangement with Kingdom Securities Limited was coming to an end and reported on the options, as detailed in the report, which were available for low level environmental enforcement within the County for recommendation to Cabinet.

 

The Chairman thanked Mark Mountford and Eion Henney for their presentation and invited Members to raise questions.

 

Councillor David Evans commented on the number of FPN’s issued for cigarettes in comparison to those for other offences, citing dog fouling as an example.  He expressed concerns that some areas were being specifically targeted to catch people who smoked cigarettes.  Referring to the options available for a future operating model, Councillor Evans expressed a preference to extend the Council’s in-house provision through recruitment to provide the same level of coverage as provided by Kingdom Securities Limited.

 

Councillor Bernie Attridge commented  on the cost and visual impact of littering on the environment and advised that Kingdom Securities Limited were introduced in 2016 to support the enforcement of environmental crime and the in-house enforcement team.  He commented on the improvements which had been achieved in town centres in terms of street cleanliness which supported the impact of a zero tolerance approach and the continued presence of enforcement officers.  He also advised that there had been an improvement in Flintshire’s grading in the Keep Wales Tidy rankings table.  Councillor Attridge commented on the small number of complaints received in comparison to the number of FPN’s issued and gave an assurance that all complaints were investigated and if any evidence of wrong practice was identified would be dealt with robustly. Councillor Attridge added that Flintshire had adopted an independent appeals process as requested by the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee whereby appeals were considered by the Chief Officer, Governance.

 

Councillor Haydn Bateman asked if employees of Kingdom Securities Limited received a bonus on the number of FPN’s issued.    Mark Mountford explained that employees received performance incentive pay arrangements but did not receive a bonus related to the number of FPN’s issued.

 

Councillor Joe Johnson commented on the negative comments which had been placed on social media concerning the approach taken by patrol officers.  He reiterated the concerns expressed by Councillor David Evans regarding the number of FPN’s issued for cigarettes in comparison to those issued for dog-fouling and said that the issue of dog-fouling was a primary concern for Flintshire’s residents. He added that he would support a more lenient, educationally focused approach to enforcement delivered in-house.

 

Councillor Chris Dolphin expressed the view that whether an enforcement service was delivered privately or by the Council a robust approach to littering, dog fouling etc. should be taken by the Council.   He added that a noticeable difference had been seen in some areas since Kingdom officers had been patrolling those areas. He asked how many staff were employed by Kingdom Securities Limited to undertake environmental enforcement on behalf of the Council and if the Council supplied uniforms and enforcement vehicles for use by the patrol officers.  He also asked how many FPN’s had been revoked following appeal.    

 

The Chief Officer advised that Flintshire County Council supplied uniforms and use of fleet vehicles and Kingdom Officers shared office accommodation with Flintshire County Council staff at the Alltami depot.  He added that the area co-ordinators are the link with Kingdom and that all routes are planned and tracked.

 

Members expressed concerns on the low number of FPN’s issued for dog-fouling in Flintshire in 2017/18 and highlighted areas where there was evidence of regular offending.  Members reiterated that the issue of dog-fouling was a primary concern for the Council.  Councillor Carolyn Thomas encouraged Members to report any incidents of dog-fouling or littering in their Wards to Streetscene which would take prompt action to address the problem.  Councillors Glyn Banks and Veronica Gay asked if patrol officers approached dog-walkers to ask if they carried bags for the appropriate disposal of dog waste. 

 

Mark Mountford advised that dog fouling is a high priority, however it could be very difficult to witness an offence.  He added that witnesses can be reluctant to get involved and provide intelligence.  In addition camera evidence had to be in daylight hours to work. 

 

During discussion Members raised questions on the number of vacancies within the environmental enforcement team employed by Kingdom Securities Limited and asked when the vacancies had been advertised.

 

In response to the further comments and concerns raised by Members, Councillor Bernie Attridge explained that environmental enforcement was intelligence lead. The Chief Officer also commented on the engagement that took place with the general public and referred to the educational information provided by the Council to bring a positive approach to environmental enforcement in local communities.

 

Councillor Haydn Bateman commented on the zero tolerance approach taken  to offences committed for littering and asked if there was evidence that an ‘accidental offence’ had been committed by a member of the public would the circumstances relating to that offence be taken into consideration.  The Chief Officer reiterated that all complaints were investigated and explained that body cameras were worn by patrol officers to record the conversation and actions of individuals approached.

 

The Chief Officer advised that a breakdown of FPN’s issued in specific areas, a breakdown of calls to Streetscene by ward and the number of complaints and appeals received could be provided.   He also agreed to provide details of the publicity and educational work undertaken to ensure members of the public were aware that the Public Spaces Protection Orders required dog owners to have a means on their person to collect dog waste from the ground if asked to do so by an authorised officer.

 

Councillor Glyn Banks referred to the 15% income received by the Authority from the FPN’s issued by Kingdom Securities Limited and asked if this was sufficient to cover the  cost of the enforcement activities. The Chief Officer confirmed that at present the monies received from Kingdom Securities Limited more than covered the costs involved.

 

Councillor David Evans proposed that option 3, to extend the in-house provision, though recruitment or regional working to provide the same level of enforcement coverage as the existing contractor without maintaining a zero tolerance approach, be recommended to the Cabinet for consideration and when put to the vote this was agreed.

 

During discussion Officers responded to the further questions and concerns raised by Members around side waste, fly-tipping, fly-posting, graffiti, and abandoned trolleys. 

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the report be noted; and

(b)       That option 3, to extend the in-house provision, through recruitment or regional   working to provide the same level of enforcement coverage as the existing       contractor without maintaining a zero tolerance approach be recommended to    the Cabinet for consideration.   

 

Supporting documents: