The Strategic Director, Place will submit Document “N” which updates Members on the Street Cleansing service and included detailed information on complaints and performance in relation to litter and fly-tipping.

The report also provides information on recent major changes including the merger with Parks and Green spaces, service redesign and the recent recruitment of new staff.

Recommended-

(1)  That the Committee notes the information in the report particularly the major changes to the service, the information on complaints and monitoring of cleanliness standards and the recent recruitment of staff.

(2)  That a further report be presented in 2020 outlining the full-year impact of operational changes made since April 2019.

(Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

                                                                                    (Damian Fisher – 01274 437146)

Resolved-

(1)       That the information in the report particularly the major changes to the service, the information on complaints and monitoring of cleanliness standards and the recent recruitment of staff be noted.

(2)       That the Committee recognises and supports the work of local volunteer led campaigns aimed at improving our neighbourhoods and keeping the districts streets clean. These were not a replacement but an addition to Council Services.

(3)       That the Committee recognises and thanks the public servants who work each day to keep the districts streets clean.

(4)       That a pro social messaging campaign in Bradford East around litter be explored.

(5)       That a further report be submitted to the Committee in 2020 outlining the full year impact of operational changes made since April 2019.

Action:           Strategic Director, Place

Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny

                                                            (Damian Fisher – 01274 437146)

The Strategic Director, Place submitted Document “N” which updated Members on the Street Cleansing service and included detailed information on complaints and performance in relation to litter and fly-tipping.

The report also provided information on recent major changes including the merger with Parks and Green spaces, service redesign and the recent recruitment of new staff.

Members made the following comments:

·         How did the staff feel about the new ways of working?

·         Concern was expressed at the number of fly tipping cases recorded by Wardens and the spike in the amount of litter and fly tipping reported to the Council.

·         Members would like to see the information officers had on litter hotspots.

·         Work of local volunteer led campaigns such as Bradfordforbetter were commended, such groups were behind litter-picks and community engagement projects, encouraging people to clean up and were doing a lot of awareness work on social media; Council Staff were thanked for the work they do in keeping the districts streets clean.

·         Were the teams that were not as proactive given guidance on responding to reporting of litter?

·         It was important that each Ward had the same level of support.

·         Consideration should be given to a pro social messaging campaign around litter which might lead people to think rather than the hard line adverts; needed to send out a message that if the Council did not have to spend so much on litter that money could be used to support valuable services that were important to them and the people of the district; the Council had a number of tips that could be used.

In response to Members comments it was reported that:

·         There was some resistance from staff originally but staff had got used to the new ways of working now.

·         Each ward had litter hotspots; gateway routes and litter hotspots were cleaned everyday; fly tipping and litter was a regular problem faced by Council staff.

·         The cleansing teams were all encouraged to pick litter whether reported or not and were working with wardens.

Resolved-

(1)       That the information in the report particularly the major changes to the service, the information on complaints and monitoring of cleanliness standards and the recent recruitment of staff be noted.

(2)       That the Committee recognises and supports the work of local volunteer led campaigns aimed at improving our neighbourhoods and keeping the districts streets clean. These were not a replacement but an addition to Council Services.

(3)       That the Committee recognises and thanks the public servants who work each day to keep the districts streets clean.

(4)       That a pro social messaging campaign in Bradford East around litter be explored.

(5)       That a further report be submitted to the Committee in 2020 outlining the full year impact of operational changes made since April 2019.

Action:           Strategic Director, Place

Regeneration and Environment Overview and Scrutiny