Agenda item

To consider actions agreed at the meeting held on 5 July 2022.

All actions had been competed on the action sheet.

One Member requested an update on consideration of the use of fixed penalty notices to address contamination of bins. It was queried as to whether any fixed penalty notices had been issued and the number of tags that had been put onto contaminated bins.

A further query was raised on whether the Council were involved in the National Recycling Campaign in September 2022.

The Assistant Director of Operations and Public Protection highlighted that enforcement is a staged approach with fixed penalties only being used after several stages including education. Engagement with residents had taken place and yet, no fixed penalty notices had been served for non-compliance.

National Recycling Campaign week had been postponed due to the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II. It had been rescheduled for week commencing 17 October 2022. This was being promoted on the Council’s social media, through the Communications Team and work alongside Lincolnshire County Council.

It was confirmed that the number of tags on contaminated bins was not available at the time of the meeting. Contamination rates had been provided in data to the Committee.

One Member noted that the contamination rates had decreased from 30% to 26%. It was queried as to why the contamination rates of bins had reduced and whether this coincided with tagging contaminated bins.

The Assistant Director of Operations and Public Protection informed the

Committee that a log of the number of tags was not kept, but contamination was logged by crews on in-cab services.

The reasoning behind the decrease in contamination rates across the County was expected to be partly due to ‘Right Thing, Right Bin’ campaign, which educates residents on which objects go into which bin and therefore, would improve the quality of recycling. Engagement with residents who were not using their bins correctly was still taking place.

One Member noted that all 3 Green Flag Status Parks were in Grantham. Clarification was sought on the action relating to communication with ‘Friends of Jubilee Park’ in Deepings St James regarding Green Flag Status. The action stated that no communication had been received from ‘Friends of Jubilee Park’ to the Council, however, Members were asking the Council to contact ‘Friends of Jubilee Park’.

It was highlighted that Jubilee Park was owned and managed by the Council, there had been a suggestion that the Council allow the Pariah Council to take it over. It was queried as to whether this would be the reason for delay.

The Chairman highlighted that organisations contact the Council for guidance around Green Park Status and the Council act as an advisory lead body as a point of contact for advice.

ACTION: For the Assistant Director for Culture and Leisure to provide more information around the Council’s role and future aspirations in relation to Jubilee Park in Deepings St James.

One Member noted that a management plan was required to gain a Green Flag Status for a park, however, ‘Friends of Jubilee’ had not completed a management plan as of yet, due their busy workload. ‘Friends of Jubilee’ could not present a three-year grounds maintenance plan due to the park being owned by the Council; the Council would be required to present the plan.

It was queried whether parks in different areas of the District that may be suitable and eligible for Green Flag Status had been explored.

The Chairman congratulated Dysart Park in Grantham for achieving Green Flag Status.

One Member highlighted the difficulty of achieving Green Flag Status. Stamford Town Council were in the process of achieving Green Flag Status for The Meadows.

A query was raised regarding the Joint meeting of Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Rural and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee and whether market testing had taken place in relation to Grounds Maintenance.

It was further queried when further information would be reported to a public meeting about Grounds Maintenance.

It was confirmed that a Joint Overview and Scrutiny Member workshop was due to take place at the end of October 2022 and another Joint meeting of Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Rural and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee would take place on 15 November 2022 and the final decision would be made by Cabinet before 2023.