Agenda and minutes

To receive disclosures of personal interest from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct

Note:

1.     Members are requested to identify the item number and subject matter that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest: and

2.   Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of a prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when they leave.

Cllr Bradwick declared a personal interest in item 4 as he is in possession of a residents parking permit.

To receive the minutes of the previous meeting of the Public Service Delivery, Communities and Prosperity Community Committee held on 11 February 2021

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the meeting of the as an accurate reflection of the meeting subject to the following inclusions:

Declaration of interest for Cllr Bradwick made at the last meeting.

The Chair also asked for it to be noted that following the last meeting, equipment was removed from a play area and members were not consulted prior to this happening so were unable to warn residents this was happening

The Parking Services and Enforcement Manager presented the report to members and also gave a presentation which covered the following areas:

• An overview of the Service area including Litter, PSPO, Waste and Flytpping
• An update of the work of the team during 2020/21 including Storm Dennis and COVID disruption, 3GS/ Litter Enforcement, Trivallis SLA, PSPO and Fly Tipping
• Future plans including Enforcement operations, Trivallis and Smoking in public places

A Member referred to potential hot spots for dog fouling and asked if the Authority can link up with Trivallis to tackle the issue.  The Member also stated that there was confusion on signage, where people were not clear if they can take dogs in and around play areas and asked if it was possible to elaborate on the signage. 

The Group Director - Prosperity, Development & Frontline Services advised that the signage was currently under review and these can be amended to made clearer.  He added that they would also engage with the Town and Community Councils regarding the signage.  He asked the member to send the hotspots through to him to look at.  He added that the Authority has a dedicated officer that has access to the Trivallis sites and therefore the officer could visit the relevant sites should it be required. 

A Member asked if members of the enforcement team go out the day after collections to visit the areas where rubbish and waste has been left behind for whatever reasons.

The Group Director responded that the enforcement teams speak with the waste teams following collections and target hotspot areas to clear any leftover rubbish and waste.

A Member raised concerns on the litter on private business parks and asked if the Authority has powers to enforce them to take action and clear the litter.

The Group Director replied that it is a public health issue and asked the member to let him know the areas of concerns and he would speak to the public health teams to resolve the issue.  

A Member asked if the Authority has mobile surveillance cameras to deal with flytiping issues

The Group Director stated that the Authority has many mobile surveillance units and they were currently working on a on a huge flytipping case that could potentially involve other authorities where it was hoped would achieve positive results in the next few weeks.

A member asked what the enforcement process was where residents put rubbish and other items out for collection before they were due to be collected. He added that he had witnessed some residents putting items out over a week before they were due to be collected. 

The Group Director replied that if it is reported to us then the enforcement teams attempt to resolve the issue immediately.  However, he did stress that it needs to be reported to us for us to know about it and that intelligence was the most successful way of resolving the issue within a timely manner.  He added that also need people to make a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

The Parking Services and Enforcement Manager presented the report to members and also gave a presentation to members which covered the following areas:

• An overview of the service area
• The PCN Process
• An update from 2020/21 including Agile Working, Office relocation, Newport Camera Vehicle, 35,000+PCNs processed April 2020 – Feb 2021
• Income generated April 2020 – February 2021
• Future Plans including Camera Enforcement Vehicles, Moving Traffic offences and Pavement Parking.

A Member asked if the funds generated by enforcement fines were invested back into parking services.  The Parking Services and Enforcement Manager responded that this is correct, as by law the funds have to be ring-fenced for parking services

A Member asked if the Authority has enforcement power for Moving Traffic Offences (MTOs)

The Parking Services and Enforcement Manager responded that we don’t have the power at present and it lay with the police.  However, the Authority would be requesting permission to have this power so we could work in collaboration with them.

A Member referred to issues around parking on the pavements, particularly in areas where schools were located and asked how the Authority would address the issues in these areas.  

The Parking Services and Enforcement Manager stated that they were focussing on certain locations at the moment and not those surrounding schools.  He added that this will be a challenge and was aware that banning parking on pavements was easy to say, but implementing it was another and would be very difficult.

The Chairman agreed and stated that where streets were narrow, if residents didn’t park on the pavement, traffic would not be able to pass through. 

A Member asked about wheelchair users, pushchairs and scooters who were unable to use pavements safely where cars were parked on pavements and asked if the Authority were able to issue a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

The Parking Services and Enforcement Manager stated that this issue highlights why it is so difficult to enforce a full ban on pavement parking.  He added that any vehicle parking on footway, should be banned where it is not necessary and that is from guidance received from Welsh Government.  He further added that the guidance needed to be applied carefully and there was a huge amount of work to be undertaken to target every street in the Borough. 

The Chairman thanked officers for their presentations and asked them to also pass thanks on behalf of the Committee to their outstanding team who have continued with their work throughout the pandemic

The Group Director Streetcare gave an update to members on proposed changes to green waste collections.  He advised of the following:

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• Green waste currently goes into bags, turned into compost.  Not all plastic can be taken out of the process – this is restricting the Authority to be able to sell the compost back to residents due to contamination
• The Authority are looking at providing two green waste bags to each household.  Households will register for the green waste scheme which is free.  If residents want additional bags they can be provided at an additional cost of £3 for each additional bag.
• Teams will empty the bag and put back outside the property.
• Green waste in plastic bags will not be collected.
• The compost can then be sold at recycling centres
• Anyone who isn’t registered for the scheme will not collect from. 
• Collections will be weekly in the summer and fortnightly in winter.  End product will reduce number of plastic bags in use.

The Chairman stated that the idea sounded great.  He asked how this would be managed for allotment sites.  The Group Director advised that this could be discussed throughout the implementation process, such as providing the allotments with a limited amount of bags and agree with the allotment committee how it is managed.

A Member asked if pet waste could be put into the bags.  The Group Director responded yes, but no stones or earth could be included. 

The Group Director stated that they would commence communications in June for residents to register with a view to trial in October. 

The Chairman asked if a report could come back to the Committee in January 2022 on the lessons learned.

To reflect on the meeting and actions to be taken forward.

The Chairman thanked officers for attending the meeting and asked that members are updated on the changes to green waste collections at the end of the year.

“Mae modd manteisio ar y cyfleuster ymchwil a chraffu, sy'n cael ei gyflawni gan Swyddog Ymchwil a Chraffu Aelodau'r Cyngor er mwyn helpu'r Aelodau i ymgymryd â'u cyfrifoldebau o ran craffu a'u gwaith ehangach. Mae gwaith o’r fath yn atgyfnerthu rhaglenni gwaith y  Pwyllgorau Craffu er mwyn sicrhau bod pynciau sy’n seiliedig ar dystiolaeth yn cael eu trafod. Os oes gyda chi unrhyw ymholiadau ynghylch gwaith ymchwil, e-bostiwch: Craffu@rctcbc.gov.uk”

“A scrutiny research facility is available within the Council Business Unit to support Members’ scrutiny responsibilities and their roles as Elected Members. Such research strengthens scrutiny Committees work programmes to ensure outcome based topics are identified. For any scrutiny research requirements please contact Scrutiny@rctcbc.gov.uk”

The Scrutiny officer advised of the Research facility that is available to members to utilise.  To utilise the service she asked that members email the Scrutiny Team on Scrutiny@rctcbc.gov.uk

Information is provided in respect of relevant consultations for consideration by the Committee.

The Chairman advised of the current consultations available for members to contribute to if they wished.

To consider any items, which the Chairman, by reason of special circumstances, is of the opinion should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

A Member raised the issue of street lighting in the Borough.  The Chairman replied that a Council decision was taken on the LED Street Lighting and if the member had any concerns this should be raised with the relevant Cabinet Member