Agenda item - Communal bins, Heritage Squares, permission to Implement

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture (copy attached).

1)           That the committee notes the outcome of the communal refuse & recycling consultation

2)           That the committee approves the roll out of communal refuse & recycling across the areas in response to the results of the consultation as shown at Appendix 1

3)           That the Committee notes that the communal refuse and recycling bins will be located in accordance with operational requirements, subject to recommendation 2.4 below;

4)           That the Committee delegates authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to conduct further consultation with residents on exact locations of communal refuse and recycling bins in the Rottingdean Coastal Ward (Area 3) where feedback from the consultation was significantly against the proposed locations. The results of the further consultation will be presented back to a future ETS Committee for decision.

46.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that set out the outcome of the communal refuse and recycling consultation in multiple areas of the city and sought permission for the introduction of communal refuse collection in those areas subject to further consultation to minimise visual impacts in specific locations where required.

46.2      Councillor Miller stated that he had examined the risk assessment for refuse collection in the heritage squares and that clearly demonstrated the current risk to council staff and that there had been accidents and the council had a duty as an employer to the safety of its staff. Councillor Miller asked if site visits for proposed bin locations would be offered to the chairs of resident associations and to ward councillors and if CCTV linked to the council’s enforcement contract could be used for any potential fly-tipping hot-spots. Councillor Miller added that he hoped refuse could be collected daily to minimise any issues.

46.3      The Assistant Director- City Environmental Management stated that the use of mobile CCTV was an option for the council and that site visits would be arranged with resident associations and ward councillors on the proposed location of bins as a matter of course. The Assistant Director added that communal refuse collections would be made daily and communal recycling collected every three days however more regular collections could be considered if necessary.

46.4      Councillor Wares requested assurance that the locations of the bins would be sensitive to the profile and appearance of the heritage squares.

46.5      The Chair replied that she could give that assurance and that guidance from the location of existing communal bins in other heritage areas of the city would be a useful guidance tool.

46.6      The Assistant Director- City Environmental Management added that officers had taken advice from local conservation and heritage groups and were mindful of their recommendations regarding bin placement.

46.7      Councillor Greenbaum stated that she supported the proposals but there were key messages from the consultation that she hoped could be addressed. Councillor Greenbaum asked if the option of locating Car Club parking spaces would be considered, if additional bins could be provided for events held in the Squares and if bin locations could be reviewed in a year.

46.8      The Assistant Director- City Environmental Management replied that Cityclean would work with colleagues in transport to gauge what was possible in relation to Car Club spaces and parking in general. Assistant Director- City Environmental Management confirmed that additional bins were already provided for events. Furthermore, the Events team were now part of the City Environment division so there was increased opportunity for joint working on such matters. The Assistant Director- City Environmental Management added that bin locations were always under review and amendments would be made in the event of any difficulties.

46.9      Councillor Janio stated that he had initially been minded to reject the proposals but having spoken extensively with officers, he had been assured that the risk present to the council workforce was real and that it was correct to begin communal refuse and recycling in the heritage squares.

46.10   Councillor Wares asked for the location on the proposed communal bins on Viaduct Road and whether these would replace or be an addition to the planters in place to reduce speeding along the road.

46.11   The Assistant Director- City Environmental Management clarified that Cityclean had been engaged with Transport colleagues throughout the consultation and had been assured that space was available on Viaduct Road to accommodate communal refuse bins alongside the planters.

46.12   RESOLVED-

1)           That the committee notes the outcome of the communal refuse & recycling consultation

2)           That the committee approves the roll out of communal refuse & recycling across the areas in response to the results of the consultation as shown at Appendix 1

3)           That the Committee notes that the communal refuse and recycling bins will be located in accordance with operational requirements, subject to recommendation 2.4 below;

4)           That the Committee delegates authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment & Culture to conduct further consultation with residents on exact locations of communal refuse and recycling bins in the Rottingdean Coastal Ward (Area 3) where feedback from the consultation was significantly against the proposed locations. The results of the further consultation will be presented back to a future ETS Committee for decision.