Issue - meetings

Purpose of report

To provide Cabinet with an opportunity to consider the Council’s approach and principles to be followed in selecting and reviewing sites for the provision of litter bins across the district.

Decision

That Cabinet:

1.    Approves the adoption of the South Kesteven District Council Policy for the provision of litter bins.

2.    Delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Waste Services and Climate Change, to make minor amendments to the Policy which may become necessary from time to time to ensure its continued accuracy, but do not affect its direction or intent.

Alternative options considered and rejected

There was no statutory requirement to adopt a policy relating to the provision of litter bins. Cabinet could have considered that it was not necessary to adopt a policy and litter bins could continue to be provided in accordance with current practice.

Reason for decision

An audit of litter bins across the district had been undertaken to establish an up-to-date record of their condition and assess the effectiveness of the existing provision. A total of 608 litter bins had been recorded. Historically, the providing and siting of litter bins had been in response to requests from the public or elected members without any structured review to ensure there was a genuine and continuing need.

To support a consistent approach to future litter bin provision, a draft Policy for the provision of litter bins had been developed, as appended to the report.

The Policy sought to clarify responsibilities where Parish and Town Councils had provided litter bins and detailed how requests for new litter bins would be dealt with. It also suggested criteria which would generally be taken into consideration when determining site location and gave an indication of areas which would not normally be considered a priority.

It was noted that, as local ward Councillors, this issue came up regularly. The Policy therefore provided useful clarity to Parish and Town Councils in respect of litter bin provision across the district.

The Policy outlined that requests for additional litter bins from Parish or Town Councils would not be rejected but would need to be paid for out of their respective precepts and that all additional litter bins would be collected as part of the Council’s normal collection rounds.