Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

Councillor Thomas introduced the Revised Environmental Enforcement and Car Parking Arrangements report which reviewed the best option for moving the service forward, taking into account the range of enforcement activities that were required.

                        It was recommended that a Business Partner be engaged to undertake the enforcement of low level environmental crime, dog control and car parking offences on behalf of the Council.  The enforcement of fly tipping and abandoned vehicles would remain with the Council along with the enforcement of black wheel bin side waste.

                        The Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) commented on the appeals process whereby the Council would appoint a senior officer who would review any appeals in relation to the issuing of any Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN)/Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) to ensure that they had been issued appropriately.  The conduct of the officers employed by the contractor would be thoroughly investigated by the Council’s appointed officer.

                        In July 2017 Cabinet approved a report which introduced changes to the Council’s waste and recycling collection service which included a commitment to enforce the problem of placing side waste alongside the black wheel bin collections.  Side waste was presented by a minority of residents and those that presented it were often not recycling.  Details of the enforcement procedure for side waste was appended to the report, with Option 1 being recommended on number (1).

                        In response to a comment from Councillor Attridge, the Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) said that any issues would be dealt with when the contract was put together.  He explained that weekly enforcement plans would be agreed in advance which would include targeting areas brought to their attention by local Members.  How the staff of the business partner were paid was out of the control of the Council but the current provider had stated that there was no direct link to performance and pay.  

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the procurement of a single Business Partner on a short term 2 year contract (with an option to extend based on performance) to undertake the enforcement of low level environmental crime, dog control and car parking offences on behalf of the Council be approved; and

(b)       That Option 1 be recommended as the preferred method of managing the enforcement of side waste.