Issue - meetings

A key building block to a thriving place with satisfied residents and visitors is a streetscene that is clean, green and safe. We want our conurbation to have a clean & sustainable physical environment; to be somewhere where people feel safe and secure; to be an environment that people treat with respect; and to be a place that people have pride in.

Launched in December 2020 the Council’s Cleaner, Greener, Safer programme is a commitment to ensuring the place based issues that matter amongst our communities are sustainably addressed and engender a sense of pride amongst communities to come together to achieve a better environment for all.

This report seeks to secure investment across key themes that supports Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council’s Big Plan’s vision for a world-class city region and restores a street level sense of pride in our place.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)          Members endorse the Cleaner, Greener, Safer programme ambitions;

RECOMMENDED that:-

(b)          Council approve £514k of additional revenue resources to support the Cleaner, Greener, Safer programme in 2021/22;

RESOLVED that:-

(c)          Cabinet approves a £674k Cleaner, Greener, Safer capital investment programme funded from prudential borrowing;

(d)          Cabinet notes the £3.789m of additional revenue resources requested in 2022/23 and £2.483m per annum from 2023/24 onwards;

(e)          Cabinet notes the £3.789m of additional revenue resources for 2022/23 and £2.438m per annum from 2023/24 onwards will formally be recommended to Council as part of the 2022/23 budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan Update report in February 2022.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Environment, Waste and Cleansing

 Communities

Reason

The recommendations seek to secure investment across key themes to support Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council’s Big Plan vision for a world-class city region. This ambitious programme will restore a street level visible sense of pride and safety in our place and achieve improved delivery within those highly visible services which are of significant importance for our residents.

The programme also includes an investment commitment aligned to the Council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency declaration to protect and enhance our precious greenspaces for our communities and wildlife, increase urban greening and promote and increase health and wellbeing via improved access to greenspace and sustainable travel routes.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Cleansing presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'D' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was informed that a key building block to a thriving place with satisfied residents and visitors is a streetscene that is clean, green and safe, and that the aim was for the BCP conurbation to have a clean & sustainable physical environment; to be somewhere where people feel safe and secure; to be an environment that people treat with respect; and to be a place that people have pride in.

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that launched in December 2020 the Council’s Cleaner, Greener, Safer programme is a commitment to ensuring the place based issues that matter amongst our communities are sustainably addressed and engender a sense of pride amongst communities to come together to achieve a better environment for all, and that the the report seeks to secure investment across key themes that supports Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council’s Big Plan’s vision for a world-class city region and restores a street level sense of pride in our place.

The Vice Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board addressed the Cabinet advising that at their recent meeting the Board had resolved to make the following recommendation to Cabinet in respect of this item.

That Cabinet note that pesticides do not just harm the organisms that they are designed to control. They also have a major impact on non-target organisms, including people. Alternative weed treatments will continue to be explored.

In relation to this the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Waste and Cleansing thanked the Board for their recommendation and advised that whilst not proposing to include the recommendation within the resolutions that he would support the proposal that alternative weed treatments would continue to be explored.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)           Members endorse the Cleaner, Greener, Safer programme ambitions;

RECOMMENDED that:-

(b)           Council approve £514k of additional revenue resources to support the Cleaner, Greener, Safer programme in 2021/22;

RESOLVED that:-

(c)           Cabinet approves a £674k Cleaner, Greener, Safer capital investment programme funded from prudential borrowing;

(d)           Cabinet notes the £3.789m of additional revenue resources requested in 2022/23 and £2.483m per annum from 2023/24 onwards;

(e)           Cabinet notes the £3.789m of additional revenue resources for 2022/23 and £2.438m per annum from 2023/24 onwards will formally be recommended to Council as part of the 2022/23 budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan Update report in February 2022.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Environment, Waste and Cleansing

To consider the Cleaner, Greener, Safer reports scheduled for Cabinet consideration on 29 September 2021.

The O&S Board is asked to scrutinise and comment on the report and if required make recommendations or observations as appropriate.

Cabinet members invited to attend for this item: Councillor Drew Mellor, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Transformation; Councillor Mark Anderson, Portfolio Holder for Environment, Cleansing and Waste; and Councillor May Haines, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety

The Cabinet report for this item is included with the agenda for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Board.

The Leader of the Council, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Cleansing and Waste and the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Officers responded to comments and requests for clarification, details included:

• There was some discussion surrounding the fly tipping pilot scheme which had recently been launched.  The Committee was advised that it had been a success to date and included education for offenders and grace periods to resolve issues.  It was clarified that the scheme only dealt with fly tipping where the rubbish could be linked back to an offender.
• It was noted that enforcement and clearing of fly tipping were undertaken by two separate services and information on how to report fly tipping was provided to the Board.
• The breakdown of the figures to be spent was highlighted and the Board was advised that details of timelines were available at appendix four to the report.
• In response to a query regarding increased residents input into keeping local green spaces tidy, including grass cutting, the Board was advised that it is difficult to balance differing residents views but that any views and feedback was welcome.
• A concern was raised regarding the proposed weed treatments planned, using chemicals such as glyphosates and whether alternative weed treatments had been considered, the Board were referred to paragraph 32 of the strategy in response.   There was agreement that community engagement in removing weeds on paths outside their properties should be encouraged
• The Board was reassured that it was policy to not spray glyphosates around playgrounds and water ways.  Alternatives had been considered to try and reduce the herbicides being used 
• In response to a query, the Board was advised that the investment would include deweeding pavements, some flower beds and there would be urban greening, including significant investment in tree planting. 
• The Board was reassured  regarding the plan for street cleansing and zoning of roads to ensure a good level of cleanliness across all roads.
• In response to a concern, the Board was advised that cross conurbation work was ongoing and including work with the local BIDs and a pilot was currently underway in Poole, starting with a street survey to consider street lighting, lampposts being painted, managing antisocial behaviour.
• Where the funding would be sourced from was discussed and it was confirmed that the Futures Fund and some elements of CIL would be used with a mix of revenue and capital spend.
• The Board discussed the partnership with Hubbub and McDonalds using drones and artificial intelligence to map litter surveys and public behaviour and the possible benefits of it.  The Board noted that Hubbub was currently writing a report detailing their findings and proposals.
• The Leader advised that BCP was trying to send a message of pride in the conurbation to residents, but it was ultimately the responsibility of the Council to maintain  ...  view the full minutes text for item 86