Agenda and minutes

An apology of absence was received from Councillor G Fazackarley.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Streetscene Policy Development and Review Panel meeting held on 25 January 2018.

It was AGREED that the minutes of the Streetscene Policy Development and Review Panel held on 25 January 2018, be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

The Chairman informed the Panel that following the Motion to Council on 23 February regarding Single Use Plastics, an Officer Working Group has now been established put together a strategy on how the Council can tackle the issue of single use plastics. A report on their progress will be made at the next meeting of the Panel.

The Chairman passed on his thanks to Councillors Mrs Bryant and Mrs Clubley for their cleaning event held on 10 March 2018 as part of the Great British Spring Clean Event.

To receive any declarations of interest from members in accordance with Standing Orders and the Council’s Code of Conduct and disclosures of advice or directions received from Group Leaders or Political Groups, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

There were no declarations of interest made at this meeting.

To receive any deputations of which notice has been lodged.

There were no deputations made at this meeting.

To consider a report by the Head of Streetscene on a Final Review of the Work Programme 2017/18 and Draft Work Programme 2018/19.

The Panel considered a report by the Head of Streetscene which reviewed the Panel’s work programme for 2017/18 and considered the draft work programme for 2018/19.

Members were invited to put forward any further suggestions for the draft work programme for 2018/19. Councillor Mrs Clubley suggested that a presentation from Matt Wakefield, the Horticultural Development Officer be added to work programme. The Head of Streetscene confirmed that this could be included.

It was AGREED that the Panel:-

(a)  noted and reviewed the outcomes of the work programme for 2017/18;

(b)  include an item onto the 2018/19 work programme titled ‘Presentation by the Horticultural Development Officer’;

(c)  approve, subject to the inclusion of (b) above, the draft work programme for 2018/19; and

(d)  submit the proposed work programme for 2018/19 to the Council for endorsement.

To receive a presentation by the Head of Streetscene on an Update on the recent Vanguard Intervention in Streetscene.

The Panel received a presentation from the Head of Streetscene and the Operations Manager on the recent Vanguard Intervention that has taken place in the Streetscene department. (attached as appendix A to these minutes)

The presentation gave an overview of process taken as part of an intervention and then looked in more detail at the services that the intervention has looked at so far, and the services that are going to be looked at in the future.

The Chairman asked if any future changes to the services resulting from the Vanguard Intervention could be incorporated into the annual reports that come to the Panel. Members would then be able to see the changes that have occurred and how these have affected the service. The Head of Streetscene confirmed that this could be done.

It was AGREED that:-

(a)  the content of the report be noted; and

(b)  the Head of Streetscene and the Operations Manager be thanked for their presentation.

To allow Member to ask questions on any Streetscene related topic.

The Chairman invited Councillor Forrest to address the Panel as he had submitted some questions.

His questions were “What methods does Fareham Borough Council use for cleaning chewing gum residue from streets? What is the schedule for clearing chewing gum? What is the annual cost to the Council? Has Fareham Borough Council ever considered a recycling approach?”

The Chairman then provided the following response; “The removal of chewing gum is undertaken as part of the street washing process in the main West Street shopping precinct only and is carried out by Hi-Spec, the Council’s Cleaning Contractor. The washing schedule is four times a year, usually in March, July, September and January. Street washing including chewing gum removal costs approximately £3,200 per annum.

The current operation is good value and the Council gets few issues with chewing gum raised by residents other than in West Street shopping precinct.

The Council have not previously undertaken any trial with chewing gum recycling bins but if there was then it is likely to be more effective in an area with a high footfall such as West Street or one of the leisure centres but would also need to be supported with communications plan.

Members will be aware of the current campaign launched back in October to encourage people to dispose of the cigarette ends or chewing gum in a responsible way. The Enforcement Officers have been handing out pouches to collect chewing gum and cigarette butts in addition to a poster campaign.”

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Miss T Harper addressed the Panel on this item.

The Chairman thanked Officers and Members for their participation in the Members Open Forum.

To consider whether it is in the public interest to exclude the public and representatives of the press from the remainder of the meeting in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, on the grounds that the matter to be dealt with involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

It was AGREED that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and representatives of the Press be excluded from the remainder of the meeting as the Panel considered it was not in the public interest to consider the matter in public on the grounds that it involved the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To consider a report by the Head of Streetscene on Textile Recycling.

The Panel considered a report by the Head of Streetscene on a review of Textile Recycling.

It was AGREED that the Panel note the content of the report.