Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to report of the Head of Public Protection.

The Service Manager Public Protection presented the report which provided performance information in relation to litter and dog control enforcement for the financial year 2018/19.  The report also sought Member’s views on whether to continue to contract out the service or to model an alternative, as part of a wider review of front line enforcement services. 

The Officer then went through the report and highlighted points contained therein.  He referred to section 3.2 of the report and reported that the words ‘pending a subject to service’ should be amended to read ‘pending a service review’.

A Member expressed concern that the charts detailed at Appendix 1 showed that patrols had not been undertaken in some areas, and asked how the patrols were split across the Borough.  She also referred to the Options for recommendation and said she supported Option 1 moving forward.

In response the Service Manager Public Protection said patrols were undertaken in response to service requests, and also scheduled patrols, particularly of ‘hot spot’ areas that have been identified.

Another Member referred to the ASDA site, and the Team Manager Environmental Protection said this site would likely come under the remit of Nantyglo.  However, patrols were not undertaken of the ASDA site as it was in private ownership, and the Council had been requested not to patrol the area.   The Officer pointed out that the charts were not a reflection of the effort put into patrols.  The amount of FPN’s issued in Ebbw Vale was higher due to greater footfall in that area, and the low number of FPN’s issued in Blaina did not mean that patrols were not being undertaken.  He said the Enforcement Officers would likely patrol areas where more prolific offending had been identified. 

A Member asked that a breakdown of FPN’s issued for Cwm, Waunlwyd and Victoria be included in the future report.

A Member then proposed that Option 1 be supported and this was seconded.

Upon vote being taken,

The Committee AGREED to recommend, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted and Members support the extension of the current contract with Kingdome for a further 12 months (with a 2 month notice period) pending a service review and cost information that would need to be modelled as part of a wider review.  (Extension of the current control would be subject to Strategic Procurement Board approval). (Option 2)