Agenda item

To receive reports from the Corporate Manager for People, Governance and Waste on Environment and Enforcement Policy

The Chair advised the Environment PDG that the title of this Agenda Item was incorrect and should read Environment and Enforcement Update and Review and that there were two reports under this item:  the End of Year report and the Quarter One report.

The Group had before it, and NOTED a *report from the Corporate Manager for People, Governance and Waste which provided Councillors with an overview of the Environment and Enforcement service for the financial year 2022/23 – he introduced the report by advising the Environment PDG of the importance of the two reports to look at the action taken around issues such as fly tipping, abandoned vehicles and dog fouling and that there had been a real improvement and excellence over the last 12-18 months.  

The Environment Enforcement Manager highlighted the following:-

·         Schemes had been implemented to encourage members of the public to be more environmentally aware and encouraged to come forward and report incidents such as fly tipping, dog fouling and abandoned vehicles.

·         The implementation of evening patrols of car parks had been undertaken as spaces were being occupied without permits.

·         A health and safety introduction for District Officers had been made with a video camera which had shown to be effective as there were less confrontations with members of the public.

·         There had been a uniform rebranding during the summer of 2022 for the District Officers who were now identified by wearing coloured vests - blue for car parking and red for environment duties.

·         Visits to primary schools were being continued to raise awareness of environmental crime and to give advice.

·         Clear procedure for interviewing people under Police and Criminal Evidence (PACE) conditions which is a legally recorded interview.

·         Mid Devon County Council also lead on a Task Group made up of several local authorities as part of the ‘Clean Devon’ scheme to tackle fly tipping which would meet every six weeks to discuss problems in Devon and engaging with ways to tackle this as a collective group.

·         The new electric fleet had been delivered and being utilised and hand held devices were being looked at.

·         That a short report was due to be submitted to Parking and Traffic Regulations Outside London Joint Committee (PATROL_ for recognition regarding changes to parking service. This was an organisation that oversees car parking elements and if recognised we would receive an award.

In addition, the Group had before it, and NOTED a *report from the Corporate Manager for People, Governance and Waste which provided Councillors with an overview of performance from the Environment and Enforcement service during Quarter 1 of the financial year 2022/23.  The Environment Enforcement Manager highlighted the following:-

·         Statistics showed a strong improvement from last year.

·         Cleaning inspections had shown a high proportion of highways and footpaths being graded as A or B.

·         There had been several successful Fixed Penalty Notices issued to individuals for fly tipping.

·         There had been a significant increase in the use of Ringo.

·         The Street Cleansing Service had recently procured a walk-behind mechanical sweeper which had received positive feedback from the public.

Discussion took place regarding:-

·         The grading on the report and what they represented.

·         Ringo and how income was gained.

Note: *update previously circulated and attached to the minutes.