Agenda item

 

This report presents key challenges and priorities for Public Realm in H&F.

Challenges and Priorities for the Public Realm. The following key points were noted:

 

·       The scope of the services provided by the public realm include:

1.    Street Environmental Services

2.    Highways

3.    Transport

4.    Parking

5.    Climate and Ecology

6.    Arts and Culture

7.    Sports

8.    Parks

The report provided details of the priorities and challenges within these eight areas and the actions in place to improve services.

 

Different aspects of service provision were highlighted, and the following key statistics were noted:

·       Over 3.5M Waste and recycling collections per year

·       20 parks and open spaces in the Borough

·       5^th lowest waste per person

·       18,800 Miles Streets swept

·       110,000 Library issues

·       16,580 Street works inspections

·       35,000 parking interactions per day

·       10 litres of water needed per tree every week

·       £47M Parking business turnover

·       25,000 Trees, 240 Km roads, 213 Hectares of greenspace

·       96% highways waste is recycled

 

At the conclusion of the presentation, the Chair encouraged the Committee to ask questions on the report.

Councillor Jackie Borland asked if fly tipping was within the Department’s remit; how much it cost to collect efficiently and whether resources might be better used in prevention, rather than reaction (removal and collection). In response, Bram Kainth, Strategic Director of Environment, confirmed that fly tipping was covered by the Department. He explained that due to the transient population within the borough and the high turnover of tenants (in rented properties), it was commonplace for mattresses to be discarded on streets (rather than tenants incur costs for dedicated removal). As a result, there was always a balance to be struck between enforcement and collection (costs). To improve the street scene, he confirmed that Environment were working in partnership with the Council’s Law Enforcement Team (LET) to take remedial action as appropriate.

 

Bram Kainth confirmed that fly-tipping  collections had improved recently, with the new waste  contract due to come into force in February 2023. This meant that more fly-tipping collections  would be collected more efficiently in future. Annie Baker, Assistant Director Street Environment Service, confirmed the Department was trying to clear fly-tipping waste more quickly, and given there was a volume of waste; being given longer (more time) to clear this, did not necessarily change the volume. What was important was the resilience of the service so that it could process peaks of high demand. Bram Kainth observed that each instance of fly tipping, created more fly-tipping, so it was seen as a self-perpetuating problem. Annie Baker reiterated that the Department was working with LET, so perpetrators were aware incidents of fly-tipping were being actively investigated.

 

Councillor Jackie Borland commented that fly-tipping was a form of blight, which in some cases, was as simple as residents putting their domestic waste out on the wrong collection day. She suggested that matters might be improved through an awareness campaign. In response, Annie Baker confirmed the Department could do a mail-box awareness campaign, as well as use a variety of other platforms such as social media. In many cases, it was noted that most progress was made when neighbours spoke to each other about local issues which touched the community as a whole.

 

In relation to Arts and Culture, Councillor Adam Peter Lang commented that he had recently attended the Windrush Day and Bob Marley’s birthday celebration which he cited as good examples of bringing multi-generations of the community together. And speaking in general terms about parks and open spaces, he noted that many residents did not have gardens and there was an opportunity to actively promote and use the  parks within the borough (given their increased usage during the Covid period). He also noted the Sports Strategy and how important this was as a vehicle to engage the community.

 

In response, Bram Kainth acknowledged the increased use of parks and the important role these had played as safe spaces for residents during the pandemic. He confirmed that a future of parks strategy was currently being developed. Councillor Adam Peter Lang highlighted the strong links between green spaces and improved mental health and the opportunities to use parks creatively in the future.

 

With regards to street works inspections, Councillor Ashok Patel highlighted these remained a major issue for commuters and residents. He suggested a mechanism should be found to publicise the details of forthcoming works. In response, Bram Kainth explained that most street works were statutory undertakings over which the Council had limited control, such as those done by Thames Water or Internet firms laying optical fibre. The Council is responsible to coordinating and monitoring streetworks within the borough.  Councillor Ashok Patel confirmed street works were a source of considerable case work and reiterated that residents would welcome a degree of prior notice.

 

Councillor Sharon Holder, Cabinet Member for Public Realm,  confirmed the Council did have a weekly list of planned closures and works, which also included the contact details of the various contractors undertaking the works. She confirmed she was aware of the impact of streetworks, and this was being investigated.

 

The Chair, Councillor Rory Vaughan noted the different categories of works and probable timescales, so enquired if a dashboard could be produced so the resident notification process could be simplified. In response, Bram Kainth explained that in relation to Highways, contractors had a statutory duty to notify the Local Authority. However, if it was a  contractor such as Thames Water or a Gas Supplier, these statutory undertakers  needed to inform and update the residents. The Chair asked Bram Kainth if officers could investigate this issue in more detail.

 

Resolved – That officers investigate the issue of the street works inspection notification process and report back to the Committee

 

Commenting further on street works inspections, Councillor Liz Collins noted how contractors used fluorescent paint to mark the location of utilities (for health and safety) but in many cases, failed to remove these unsightly markings. She also highlighted the issues of old street furniture (signage) on lampposts, the prevalence of weeds and how neglected areas often attracted litter and disused vehicles. In response, Bram Kainth agreed that the usage of these paints appeared over-zealous at times, and if Councillors identified a  particular area of concern, then officers could be tasked with investigating the area and conducting a  signs audit. In relation to weeding, Bram Kainth confirmed this was a constant challenge which depended on weather conditions and the method/s used to control the weeds.

 

Speaking in general terms about future work areas, the Chair confirmed the Committee needed to revisit sports provision / Sports Strategy and how this was being developed, as well as progress on the Arts and Culture Strategy and the topic of Parks. Further topics for consideration included: Parks and improving the borough’s Green Flag status.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the future work programme include: Sports provisions, Arts and Culture development and Parking.

 

The Chair also suggested that Parks and improving the borough’s Green Flag status could be investigated and he enquired how tree preservation orders (TPOs) were determined. In response, Bram Kainth provided details of how these were determined and offered to provide further information to the Committee on this topic.

 

RESOLVED

 

That officers provide further information pertaining to the determination of TPOs

 

In relation to transport issues, the Chair asked if more funding was available for additional bike hangers. Bram Kainth confirmed it was a priority to provide further bike hangers and to raise the funding for them, as demand was increasing all the time.

 

With regards to the statistics on waste management in the report, the Chair enquired whether the fifth lowest waste per person was pan-London or nationally and how recycling rates might be improved in the future (as well as how recycling rates were measured). Annie Baker confirmed this was the fifth lowest rate per person in England. In relation to recycling rates, Bram Kainth commented that as household waste was so low, it was a challenging statistic to significantly improve and so the Authority needed to focus on: 1, food waste and containerisation and 2. garden waste.

 

Annie Baker provided a detailed response on how waste rates were calculated and explained that recycling rates were easier to calculate. However, waste minimisation was related to economic performance and how the wider (global) economy was performing. Richard Shwe,  Assistant Director of Environment Operations, confirmed that when the containerisation pilot was conducted, recycling rates increased from 25% to 40% and the Environment were working with residents and had changed the service dynamics which had increased the Council’s performance rates. A technical explanation was provided concerning street or multiple household collections and the ramifications these had on containerisation rates.

 

The Chair asked about recycling rates in general terms and what plans there were to improve these. The Committee requested a report on the Council’s Waste Strategy, covering waste reduction and recycling to the 28 November 2022 meeting. The Chair confirmed that reducing waste was as important as improving recycling rates.

 

 

RESOLVED

 

That officers provide a report on the Waste Strategy, covering waste reduction and recycling to 28 November 2022 meeting.

 

 

Concluding the item, the Chair thanked officers for their helpful overview of the Departments remit, which had served as useful introduction the Environment Department.

 

 

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Committee note and comment on the priorities and challenges