Decision details

Arising from a * report of the Waste and Transport Manager, the Environment Policy Development Group had recommended that the following be approved:

a)    Land according to EPA be categorised.

b)    Current productivity of service be measured.

c)    Cost option for output frequency rather than input.

d)    Cost different frequencies options(less and more) for the mechanical street sweeping service.

e)    Check schedules against adopted highways maps and address any anomalies.

f)     Reroute schedules into zones so all mechanical sweepers work in the same area at the same time.

g)    Map and review Parish Sweeper routes and evaluate efficiency.

h)   An additional two person parish sweeper team is introduced at cost of £54,500 p.a.

i)     Risk-assess all high speed roads that are litter picked.

j)      Litter picking of the two high speed road verges is reinstated and undertaken twice per year and laybys every two months.

k)    A review of weekend sweeping is undertaken and costed.

l)     Benchmark the cost effectiveness of town council work/grants and review the routes to ensure that is not duplicating work done by the District Council’s cleansing service.

m)  If these working arrangement are to continue, provide a service level agreement for three years from April 2018.

n)   If these working arrangements are to continue, inform Town Clerks of future training so their operatives may attend also.

o)    Re-introduction of using NI195 criteria to assess street cleanliness by District Officers once a quarter.

p)    New transfer station to include a skip for road sweepings so they can be composted.

q)    Purchase three split recycling litter bins one for each town centre to assess their success.

r)     Continue to encourage voluntary groups and investigate whether litter picking groups would be happy to litter pick where advised by Parish/Town/District Councils.

s)    Review all existing bin locations and conduct a condition survey.

t)     Pressure wash clean all bins once a year.

u)   Introduce “Any bin will do!” stickers on litter bins.

v)    Street Cleaners to report any bins that are frequently filled with household waste, for District Officers to investigate. 

w)   Regular contact with estates to effective joint working.

x)    District Officers and Town Councils to meet once a month to discuss issues.

y)    MDDC to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with Highways England.

z)    Create an “online look up” for street sweeping schedules.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment outlined the contents of the report stating that the aim of the review was to establish the current service arrangements and to identify options for improving performance and efficiency.  Benchmarking had been undertaken with other local authorities and against known best practice.  He explained the consultation process that had taken place with Town and Parish Councils and partner agencies and the priority areas covered within the review.  

Consideration was given to:

·         The renaming of the two person parish sweeper team to save confusion and that it should be known as the “two person litter busters team”

·         Whether we were legally required to wash the town centre pavements

·         Further communication with Town and Parish Councils encouraging local litter picking groups

·         Liaison with the Highway Authority regarding programmed main road closures so that litter picking could take place in those areas at the same time

·         Issues with youths and litter in the multi-storey car park

·         Training for Town Council litter pickers

RESOLVED that subject to an amendment to reword recommendation (h) so that it read “An additional two person litter busters team be introduced at a cost of £54,500pa” the recommendations of the Policy Development Group be approved.

(Proposed by  the Chairman)

Note:

i)   Cllr C R Slade declared a personal interest as he was a Tiverton Town Councillor;

ii)  * Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.