Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to report of the Team Manager Street Scene.

The Chair welcomed Neil Greenhalgh of Red & White Resource to the meeting.

The Team Manager Street Scene presented the report which sought support for the adoption of a new Litter and Fly-Tipping Strategy for 2021-2026.  He pointed out that Blaenau Gwent was only the second Authority in Wales to devise such a Strategy.

He confirmed that a successful application was made to Caru Cymru for £30,000 pa over a three-year period commencing 2019/20.  The Caru Cymru scheme supported projects for environmental improvements within residential areas by developing benefits for people, businesses and their communities.  The aim of the project was to improve the quality of the environment with the emphasis on long term behavioural change rather than continuing to rely on just cleaning up.  The funding application included the appointment of a Local Environmental Quality (LEQ) Officer who would work with existing Litter Champions and groups, and also engage with schools and community groups to raise awareness, educate and promote local environmental quality issues within the borough.  Unfortunately, this work had been delayed due to the Covid pandemic.

The Officer said it had been identified that in order for the Council to have a more effective and positive impact on the scheme, a relevant strategy and supporting policies would be required to support management of the project.  As a result, the funding application included a specialist LEQ consultant to be appointed to undertake a review of the Street Cleansing Service and draft a Blaenau Gwent Litter and Fly-Tipping Strategy.   A tender process was commenced in November 2019 and the contract was awarded to Red & White Resource Ltd.

The Officer confirmed that a thorough review and analysis of the cleansing service was undertaken, and the feedback from stakeholder meetings and interviews allowed the Consultant to draft an independent and objective Litter and Fly-Tipping Strategy for Council.  However, due to the Covid pandemic, additional site visits and follow-up stakeholder workshops were unable to go ahead, but it was felt that the information and data obtained up to 20^th March, 2021 was sufficient to complete a draft Strategy for adoption by the Council.

In terms of the Strategy, attached at Appendix 1, a number of key objectives have been established that would deliver the recognised environmental improvements, and these were highlighted at section 2.3.3 of the report.  Also included within the Strategy was an Action Plan (Appendix 2) with key actions to be undertaken during the 5 year lifespan of the Strategy and associated timelines.

A Member referred to the excellent work undertaken by Litter Champions, but expressed concern that the process currently in place to register as a litter champion should be made easier.

In response the Team Manager Streetscene said there were well over 200 registered Litter Champions in the Borough working closely with the Council.  When registered they are able to report their litter picks for collection through the system and they also have direct access to Officers.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7