Agenda item

The Strategic Director of City Development & Neighbourhood Services submits a report to provide an update on fly-tipping issues across the city.  A slide presentation will also be given.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submitted a report to provide an update on fly-tipping issues across the city. A slide presentation was given (as included in the agenda pack).

Key points other than those in the slides included:

·       Initiatives included Ward Action Plans.  These were mini-projects within an area coordinated between City Wardens, Cleansing Services and Housing.  Private Sector Housing and Waste Management were also involved.  These could involve identifying issues at a particular time, also conducting cleanup days and door-knocking schemes.

·       With regard to investigations and fines, the opportunities to investigate were limited by a lack of identifiable marks.  Unidentifiable tips were still cleaned away for the public good.

·       Serious or repeat cases could be referred on to the EnviroCrime team.

·       When evidence was found by City Wardens, the person identified was asked for an interview.

·       Other authorities were increasing their fixed penalty notices.  This was discretionary to the local authority.

·       Match spending was done where necessary.

·       A positive effect was starting to be seen.

·       AI was being used along with CCTV to assist with enforcement as there is a need to prove tipping was done by a certain person.  Cars could be traced by DVLA records.

The Committee were invited to ask questions and make comments. Key points included:

·       In response to a question about how fines and prosecutions were counted, it was explained that a City Warden would investigate an incidence.  If there was no evidence as to who was responsible, it would be removed by Cleansing Services.  If there was evidence, the person involved would be called in and if there was a prosecution then there may be a fine.  The figure on the slide was for both prosecutions and fines.

·       Data on the number of fixed penalty notices (FPNs) to businesses in comparison to households could be obtained.

·       It was clarified that a fine was the final stage of the process. 

·       People in St Matthews had been approached and it appeared as though many were unaware that leaving rubbish bags outside a bin was fly tipping.

·       People could be persuaded not to fly tip both through education and through fines in a ‘carrot and stick’ approach. 

·       With regard to points raised about fly tipping around recycling areas, it was explained that a balance was needed as people needed the opportunity to recycle correctly, but people also needed to be discouraged form tipping at these sites.  It was necessary to see if recycling sites needed to be there or if they invited fly tipping.

·       Bring Banks were beneficial to some communities but detrimental for others.  It was intended to encourage people to use them for household waste recycling.  It was accepted that they did not always work, and some had been removed.

·       There were a number of CCTV cameras across the city, including at the Brite Centre and Cossington Rec.  Cameras were deployed in problem areas to capture fly tipping.

·       Councillors challenged whether more city wardens would help combat fly tipping.

·       Leafleting could be effective but was resource-heavy.  A balanced approach was necessary.  If it was identified as a good strategy, then it could be used.  A nuanced approach was needed.

·       Not every fly-tip led to an investigation.  People could deny responsibility if there was no proof and the tips still needed to be removed.  A person would need to be identified for an investigation to take place.

·       Eco-Schools teams had been worked with to educate children from a young age about recycling.  Information was also available through libraries and community groups aimed at different levels of society.  However, not every level of society could be reached.

·       Where plans were in place and successful, the Council teams along with local people could make a difference.

·       Communities could be empowered to help a culture shift through the spread of information about what constituted fly tipping and how it could be avoided.

·       When comparing Leicester to other authorities, it was important to consider the differences between them particularly in terms of demographics.  For example, in areas with high numbers of students and renters with a high turnover of residents, the issue would be exacerbated.

·       More money and resources to tackle the issue would be welcome, but the money was not available to invest to heavily in the service.  However, it was thought that the service was getting things right on balance.

·       This was a societal issue, and the issue was harder to tackle if information was not passed on.

·       City Wardens were praised for their work considering the pressure they were under.

·       The use of the Love Leicester app was advocated as a helpful start to the process of dealing with fly tipping.

·       The city had good provision of regular household waste recycling, the provision in Leicester was higher than in other Councils.  This helped to keep fly tipping numbers where they were.

·       Westcotes, Stoneygate and Fosse were all selective licenced areas.  This in combination with being densely populated areas with lots of businesses meant that fly tipping would be compounded in these areas.

·       It was requested that information be shared on which wards made the most use of the Love Leicester app.

·       It was noted that Narborough Road had a large number of students and rented properties.

·       It was suggested that some people fly tipped knowingly and others unknowingly.  It was important that the Council did what it could in each situation with the communities involved.  Different approaches were needed in different areas, going heavily on those tipping deliberately and educating those doing it unknowingly.

·       Comparisons had been made with other unitary cities, some of these had bigger populations than Leicester.

·       Action plans had been created for Westcotes and Belgrave.

·       Legislation had prevented he use of big skips.

AGREED:

1)    That the elements of the report pertaining to Culture and Neighbourhoods be noted.

2)    That comments made by members of this commission to be taken into account by the lead officers.

3)    That the appreciation of officers and City Wardens be noted.

4)    That the findings of the review come back to the Commission, including ward-by-ward correlations.