Issue - meetings

That the Committee recommends approval to Cabinet of the proposed revisions to the Councils’ Environmental Enforcement Policy as in Appendix 1 to the report. 

The Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) introduced a report  to seek a recommendation to Cabinet to approve the revised Environmental Enforcement Policy.  He provided background information and advised that the Authority’s Policy entitled ‘Managing the Local Environment’, which was appended to the report, had been reviewed to reflect the various changes to legislation and Portfolio arrangements since 2013.

The Regulatory Service Manager presented the main considerations, as detailed in the report and referred to the aims and objectives of the Environmental Enforcement Policy and the main focus areas.  She also drew attention to the data provided on the number of Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) issued and explained that there had been a decrease in the use of FPNs and greater   emphasis had been put on educating the general public of the harmful effects of dog fouling and discarding of litter. 

Members raised a number of concerns about car parking outside school premises and in private residential areas, discarded shopping trolleys, fly-tipping, commercial and side waste, dog fouling, discarded drug equipment, and overgrown trees/hedgerows.  Officers responded to the comments and concerns raised.  The Chair asked Members to put the specific concerns raised regarding issues in their Ward in writing to the Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) for a detailed response with a copy to the Chair.  The Regulatory Service Manager asked Members to contact the Enforcement Team  to highlight any problem areas in their Ward which required more close attention. 

Councillor Sean Bibby expressed his thanks to the Chief Officer and his team for the improvement to services in his Ward.

At the Chair’s request, it was agreed that the Chief Officer would send a copy of the Authority’s Environmental Enforcement Policy ‘Managing Local Environment’, to all Town and Community Councils for information. The Chair also asked that a budget statement be provided to the Committee detailing the cost of Environmental Enforcement provision in the County.  The Chief Officer agreed to provide a budget statement to Members of the Committee. 

The recommendations in the report were moved by Councillor Paul Shotton and seconded by Councillor George Hardcastle. 

RESOLVED: 

That the Committee recommends approval to Cabinet of the proposed revisions to the Councils’ Environmental Enforcement Policy as in Appendix 1 to the report.