Agenda item

Presentation and discussion.                                                             To follow

A presentation was made by the Operations Director on the proposed Clean, Green and Healthy Strategy. The strategy aimed to deliver the authority’s ‘Keep SK Clean, Green and Healthy’ priority. The group discussed the factors that influenced an individual’s health and wellbeing covering the topics of Health, Environment and Street Scene.

The Operations Director gave an overview of Health in South Kesteven. It was acknowledged that whilst there were some health inequalities in the district, South Kesteven was a very good place to live and was shown to be the best in Lincolnshire and better than the national average.

The main health-related issues within the district include smoking in pregnancy, statutory homelessness and road injuries and deaths. Two further areas of concern were Excess Winter Deaths and the increasing aging population resident in the district. 

The Operations Director highlighted the ‘determinants of health’ to show the impact of general socioeconomic, cultural and environmental conditions in determining health inequalities. 

A table was shared with group members that showed the South Kesteven Health Indicators, third party support and the authority’s ability to directly impact on these indicators.

It was noted that there was a Lincolnshire Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy that covered five themes:

·         Promoting healthier lifestyles

·         Improving the health and wellbeing of older people

·         Delivering care for ill health and disability

·         Improving health outcomes and reducing inequalities for children

·         Tackling the social determinants of health

It was agreed that as a district authority South Kesteven mainly supports in four of these themes through its wide range of services. In order for the Council’s Strategy to best complement the Lincolnshire Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy the PDG supported the proposed key target areas of:

·         Encourage active and healthy lifestyles

·         Enable healthy homes

·         Clean and attractive and safe street scene

·         A greener environment

Discussion followed through which members of the PDG supported the recommended areas of support. These being:

Active and Healthy Lifestyles:

·         Promote physical activity

·         Encourage healthy eating

·         Reduce trend in alcohol and smoking

Healthy Homes

·         Reduce the impact of fuel poverty

·         Reduce homelessness

·         Improve private sector housing

Recommendation:

 The PDG supports the Health themes and the suggested areas of support.

In relation to Environment, the PDG was given information detailing the Council’s current position on waste and recycling, parks and open spaces and the Authority’s own carbon footprint.  Generally there remained high levels of recycling within the district.  Further work was required on the education of residents in relation to contamination of waste and allowable recycled materials.   Parks and open spaces within the district were of a high standard with Wyndham Park achieving Green Flag status.  Concentration of effort was now required to maintain that status and to ensure that the District’s parks and open spaces were well maintained for users and wildlife.  The Authority’s carbon emissions had increased due to the unusually harsh winter 2012/13.  The overall trend saw emissions reducing.  Green energy was provided by the installation of solar panels on some of the Council’s buildings.

Dog fouling and fly-tipping were discussed as street scene issues which had increased across the district. The group was informed that the authority employed two full time enforcement officers and one part time enforcement officer.

The possibility of a Dog Warden to monitor dog fouling more closely was discussed. Members were informed that if a complaint was made, officers would be able to visit the area to monitor any offences and educate offenders. Cautions have been given and prosecutions made with regard to fly-tipping.

The group discussed anti-social behaviour (ASB) which the Operations Director informed the Group had decreased.  This statement was challenged by one Member who represented the Council on the Police and Crime Panel who understood ASB had increased.  Mr Yates reported that although the overall picture had improved there were areas to be targeted. In their discussion relating to Street Scene, Members expressed interest in ensuring businesses that took care of the outside premises were thanked. Concern was raised at the increasing amount of detritus left by people using fast food outlets and those who smoked outside of public houses etc. Members agreed that enforcement of fixed penalty arrangements for litter such as cigarettes, fast food wrappings etc should be enforced by the authority’s Enforcement Officers. Recycling was discussed. Currently the Council did not collect recyclable waste from commercial properties.  One Member questioned whether there was the possibility of an income stream from offering recycling resources to small businesses. 

ACTION: Officers to research the viability of offering recycling collections to small businesses in the District

Members of the PDG supported the recommended areas of intervention. These being:

Clean, Attractive and Safe

·         Improve air quality in Grantham town centre

·         Reduce anti-social behaviour

·         Reduce fly tipping and dog fouling

·         Improve attractiveness

Greener Environment

·         Recycling

·         Carbon Footprint

·         Parks and Green Flag

Recommendation:

The PDG supports the Clean, Attractive and Safe and the Greener Environment themes and the methods of support suggested.

Members were keen to ensure those businesses that took care of the outside of their premises were thanked. Members suggested that responsibility for enforcement through the fixed penalty notice arrangements for litter, such as cigarette litter, should be transferred from the authority’s Enforcement Officers to an outside company who would identify and appropriately deal with establishments who offend.